8 January 2007
DRAFT CHARGES SCHEME FOR 2007/08 FOR NORTHERN IRELAND WATER
The Department for Regional Development has initiated an eight week consultation exercise on the initial charges scheme for 2007/08.
This scheme will apply to Northern Ireland Water Limited - the government owned company to be set up on 1 April 2007.
The draft charges scheme brings together, for the first time, the full details of the comprehensive water and sewerage charging regime that the new company will operate - details that have been consulted upon or announced over the past three years. It includes details on the Affordability Tariff, the domestic metering policy and information on payment methods. It also provides details of the existing charging policies.
The consultation is primarily focussed on the form and content of the draft charges scheme. Although every water or sewerage undertaker in GB produces a charges scheme, there has never been such a document in Northern Ireland. The Department is, therefore, keen to take views on the shape and structure of the document to ensure that it covers the areas that it is required to by the Order and provides the information that customers need in a readily accessible format.
The final charges scheme will provide details of the levels of the charges and tariffs - these will be available once the Strategic Business Plan is agreed. The figures contained in the consultation draft charges scheme are the latest estimates - which provide a reasonable indication of the likely level of the final tariffs for 2007/08.
The document is available on the website www.waterreformni.gov.uk or by contacting the Water Reform Unit, 6th Floor, Lancashire House, 5 Linenhall Street, Belfast, BT2 8AA. Telephone 02890 542985, Fax: 028 9054 7875. For audio impaired users please contact 028 9054 0642. The consultation closes at midday on Monday 5 March 2007.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- Article 200 of the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 ('the Order') empowers the water company to charge for any services provided or things done in the course of carrying out its functions.
- Article 200 also requires that where the company proposes to make charges it must either set these out in an annual charges scheme (which is approved by the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (NIAUR)) or by agreement with the person receiving the service.
- Article 201 of the Order provides the general basis upon which a charges scheme is drawn up and approved. The two main areas covered are in respect of the fixing of charges to be paid for services provided and the setting out of the times and methods of payment of those charges.
- Article 201(11) provides that the initial charges scheme may be made by the Department.
- Article 202 of the Order requires that a charges scheme must comply with any requirements prescribed by the Department by Regulations. It is under this Article that the Department will provide Regulations prescribing the detail of the Affordability Tariff.
- For further media queries contact the DRD Press Office on 028 9054 0004.
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