Grant on Watercare

Damien Grant writes in the HoS:

Chorus has 1.8 million connections and 550 staff. It is privately owned, made $400 million profit in the past seven months and charges $300 for a new phone connection.

Watercare has 1.4 million connections with 645 staff.

It is owned by the Auckland Council and charges $8000 to connect a property to water.

Watercare claims the fee is an infrastructure growth charge.

It isn’t.

It is a tax imposed on developers because it is easier than running an efficient business.

$8,000 seems well over the top I have to say. Does anyone know what it is in other areas?