THE COST of water is not the only thing expected to rise in the new year.Electricity, gas and train travel to Melbourne are all to rise under new price regimes.From January 1 the cost of an adult return ticket during peak periods will rise from $28.40 to $29.80 while off-peak will move 80 cents to $20.80.V/Line spokeswoman Clare Steele said the increases were in line with the Consumer Price Index of five per cent."The increases are due to inflation but even with petrol prices coming down recently train travel is still cheaper than driving (to Melbourne),'' she said.In line with its five-year plan from 2008 to 2013 Central Highlands Water will again lift its charges from July.Under the plan water bills will rise 38.4 per cent, however a CHW spokesman said consumers had already experienced the biggest increase last July when bills increased 25 per cent.A further 5.1 per cent increase will begin from July 2009 and 3.1 per cent increase in the years following."The major increases to do with water have already been implemented,'' the spokesman said."From an outlook point of view it's much more controlled (price increases) and it's approved and there is more lower increases in future.''According to energy price comparison service Switchwise the average electricity bill will rise $109, or 9.3 per cent from January 1.Among the major providers Momentum Energy is hiking its prices the most by 33.2 per cent, while TRUenergy is raising its the least by 5.3 per cent.The State Government from July 1 will also raise a host of fees and charges among automatic annual indexation.The State Opposition has tipped in the 2009-2010 financial year that an extra $100 million will pour into State Government coffers from a raise in car and motorcycle registrations, boating, fishing and shooting licences, cat and dog registrations, court fees and charges, birth registrations, traffic offences and speeding fines.However, in better news, petrol is tipped to remain around the $1 per litre mark, at least for the short term."In view of the fact the price moves twice weekly it really is a week to week proposition but there is nothing on the horizon at the moment that would appear to spike a large increase in the price of fuel," RACV fuel spokesman David Cumming said.