NI Water Welcomes Regulator’s Report

07 December 2011 14:23

NI Water acknowledges the recently published report by the Utility Regulator into the company’s cost and performance during the 2010/2011 year. This is the first report on the current three year Price Control (PC10) period.

Describing the report as an, “independent assessment of the progress that has been made in the company’s first year of the PC10 period,” Ronan Larkin, the Director of Finance and Economic Regulation at NI Water, said the company welcomed an independent assessment which sought to provide a balanced perspective which will be helpful to consumers and stakeholders.

“The report highlights a number of positives; we outperformed the stringent efficiency targets set for NI Water in 2010/11; we delivered savings of £6.1m more than the targets set. We are also providing the best ever quality drinking water so our investment in Water Treatment Works and water main upgrades is proving effective in improving water quality for our customers. In addition all five sewage compliance targets were also achieved, which is excellent news in terms of the environment.

“However, the report also pinpointed areas requiring improvement, in particular the performance of the company during the 2010/2011 winter period. We have undertaken significant work, in addressing the recommendations from the Regulator’s report into last year’s Freeze/Thaw incident, to ensure the company is better prepared for the current 2011/2012 winter period.

“We are also continuing to make inroads in closing the gap between NI Water and water utilities in England and Wales. However, we accept there remains much work and investment to be undertaken during the remaining two year PC10 period and beyond.

“We believe that working with the Regulator and other stakeholders has greatly assisted us in producing strong results for this first year of PC 10 and we look forward to building on this for the future.”