NI Water holds price increases below limits
27 March 2012 0:01
NI Water today announced changes to its non-domestic water and sewerage charges. While water charges for non-domestic customers are decreasing in real terms, the cost of sewerage charges will see an increase.Whilst these price increases are unavoidable, NI Water has held increases to well below the limits set by the Utility Regulator and allows the price of 10 litres of water to remain at 1p.
Measured customers will see their combined water and sewerage bill increase by 6.9%. Unmeasured customers will see a rise of 8.4% to their combined bill.
From 1st April 2012 a small to medium size shop or hairdressing salon will see an increase of up to 50p per week. An average sized farm will see an increase of up to 20p per week, while a medium to large factory or office will see an increase of up to £4 per week.
NI Water is required to annually review the charges levied for water and sewerage charges and agree them with the Utility Regulator in order that customers pay the fairest rate for the water and sewerage services they receive.
The new charges, to be reflected in bills from April, follow the Utility Regulator’s decision on the prices NI Water should charge customers between 2010-13.
The full Scheme of Charges is available on NI Water’s website and outlines changes for measured (customers with a meter) and unmeasured (customers without meters) charges.
Ronan Larkin explains:
“The increases are unavoidable because of the effects of inflation and the substantial cost of necessary improvements to the water and sewerage infrastructure to meet standards and improve quality. For customers, the improvements in the infrastructure have helped to deliver the best ever drinking water quality and have helped to reduce our impact on the environment through improved sewage treatment.
“However, we are very conscious that these are difficult economic times for our customers. We have, therefore, gained agreement to limit any tariff increases as much as possible.
“The charges for the 2012/13 year have all been agreed by the Utility Regulator in conjunction with the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland (CCNI).
“Leaflets will be mailed to approximately 75,000 non-domestic customers to notify them of the forthcoming pricing changes and specifically, how they will be applied.
“NI Water is committed to providing a high standard of service to all our customers. Anyone with questions or concerns about the Scheme of Charges can phone our Billing Enquiries Team on 08458 770030.”
Advertisements outlining the changes are also being carried in daily newspapers.
For further information, customers can contact NI Water’s Billing Enquiries team on 0845 877 0030 or visit our web-site niwater.com
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact NI Water Press Office on 028 90 354710 or email press.office@niwater.com
Notes to editors
Ӣ Any proposed rises are in accordance with the existing Regulatory settlement (PC10) agreed in 2010 and are less than NIW could have applied had it raised them by the maximum level permitted.
Ӣ When setting tariffs NI Water has to balance minimising the impact on customer bills against ensuring that it can cover the costs of providing an efficient and effective service.
Ӣ NI Water did not increase charges by as much as it could have done and has been able to keep increases down in previous years. This is due to the efficiencies the Company has made.