Templestowe City Council Approves 2026-27 Rate Cap and Utility Rebate Program

The Templestowe City Council on July 7 passed two measures in the 2026-27 budget that directly address household expenses. One freezes the general rate increase at 2.5 percent. The second creates a utility credit program drawn from council reserves.

Why the measures reached the council floor now

Budget papers presented at the meeting showed that average household utility bills rose 9 percent in the prior twelve months. Council staff attributed the rise to wholesale energy price adjustments recorded by the regional distributor in March 2026. The documents projected that without intervention, the typical Templestowe property would face an additional $187 in combined rates and fees.

Residents who own single-family homes on the north side of the river will see their annual rates bill increase by no more than $68 under the new cap. Renters in multi-unit buildings along High Street may receive the credit indirectly if landlords pass on the reduced outgoings. The utility credit applies to electricity and water accounts for households with incomes below $78,000, covering an estimated 4,800 properties according to the eligibility modelling in the budget papers.

Next steps for implementation

The council will forward the rate cap ordinance to the state valuation office for final certification by August 15. Applications for the utility credit open September 1 through the council website and at the Templestowe civic centre. Payments are scheduled to begin with the October billing cycle.

Finance staff told the meeting that the $2.3 million set aside for the credit will be drawn from the accumulated surplus reported in the 2025-26 financial statements. Any unspent portion at year end will return to the same reserve. The measures take effect on July 1, 2026, for the new rating year.