Wellington, May 22 NZPA - Metrowater, Auckland City Council's water and wastewater retail utility, is putting its charges up by 5.9 percent from July 1.

The increase will add approximately $13 to a typical household's quarterly bill.

Metrowater is a council controlled organisation that sources water from Watercare Services Ltd.

Watercare Services chief executive Mark Ford has just been named as executive chair of the agency set up to manage Auckland's transition to a super city structure.

Water services throughout the Auckland region will be merged under the super city council.

Metrowater chief executive Jim Bentley said the price increase was driven by the increase in wholesale water and wastewater charges. These charges were needed to fund infrastructure.

Metrowater also had higher depreciation and interest costs.

Metrowater said the amount of water it sold was down 5 percent on last year.

"Because many of our costs are fixed a reduction in sales volumes results in a necessary increase in the price per cubic metre," Mr Bentley said.

The move brings Metrowater's charges into line with other providers in the Auckland region ahead of the transition to the new Auckland council.

The increase in charges comes at a time when electricity generators have been found to have been overcharging. NZPA