FCVic submitted feedback to the Essential Services Commission’s Water Price Review 2026, informed by the Essential Services Network of financial counsellors, welcoming water corporations’ engagement with vulnerability while urging fairness, accessibility and proportionality in pricing and hardship responses. FCVic notes utility bills are a top issue for National Debt Helpline callers and warns water pricing could compound household pressures. The submission calls for nuanced local hardship approaches in North East Water’s region given pockets of disadvantage, welcomes Melbourne Water’s average increase of less than 1 per cent with customer support measures, and supports contributions to the Financial Counselling Industry Fund, encouraging statewide commitments.