NI Water presents its Annual Report and Accounts for 2014/15

28 September 2015 16:56

NI Water has published its annual report for 2014/15 detailing a period of increased efficiency, improved service and lower bills for its customers.

The report coincides with the final year of a two year price control period.  Among the many highlights were:

• when adjusted for inflation, average bills for customers reduced by 11.7% over the two year period
• completion of a £320 million, two year capital programme across Northern Ireland to support the delivery of water and waste water services 
• running costs reduced by a further £5 million in 14/15 contributing to a £66million reduction in the annual cost of providing our services to every home, organisation and business in Northern Ireland since  2009/10
• a further closing of the efficiency gap between NI Water and the leading UK Water companies from 49% in 2007 to approximately 13%
• sustained record levels of water quality and waste water compliance
• continued reductions in pollution incidents in support of an improved environment in Northern Ireland

NI Water CEO, Sara Venning described the report as: “Reflective of a company which has continued to deliver an essential service to an ever increasing quality and in an increasingly efficient manner.

“Over the past two years we have continued our journey towards becoming a modern efficient water utility on a par with any to be found on these islands or across the world. The facts speak for themselves; as a company NI Water delivers a significantly better service than five years ago at a significantly reduced cost to its customers.

“We know, however, that the journey is not complete. Looking to the future we must innovate, invest, and inspire our organisation to continue on the trajectory where we put our customers at the heart of all that we do.

“One of the few negative aspects of the year on which we reported was of course the difficulties faced by some of our customers over the Christmas and New Year period due to the industrial action as the result of pension reform.

“That was a situation which caused much regret throughout this organisation but the resolution of the causes of that dispute means we can renew our focus on ensuring that we continue to improve the service we provide.

“We will also continue to work with our shareholder in government to address the real difficulties that our present hybrid business delivery model presents in terms of unlocking the levers that would allow us to become even more efficient and deliver an even better service to the benefit of the people, the environment and the economy of Northern Ireland.”   

Copies of the Annual Report can be viewed online at http://www.niwater.com/annual-report/