The occupier of a premises is liable for paying domestic water charges. Under the Water Services (No.2) Act 2013, it is presumed that the owner of a premises is the occupier unless proved otherwise. Where a customer fails to pay a charge, it shall be recoverable by Irish Water as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
FAQs
The current subvention of group water schemes will be adjusted to align subvention with the free allowance approach towards households on public water supplies to ensure households in this sector receive equivalent support, while allowing for any transitional issues, to sustain improvements in quality in the group water sector. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government will consult with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes on arrangements for the group water sector.
During 2014, the CER is expected to publicly consult and make decisions on a number of issues,
including:
domestic water charges tariff design and structure;
non-domestic water charges tariff structure and glide path;
Irish Water’s interim revenue requirement (2014 to mid-2016);
customer protection measures, including codes of practice; and
connection charging methodology.
The current timeline for the CER’s public consultations and decisions is:
April
Domestic tariff structure (part of water charges plan) – consultation underway
Non-domestic tariff structure and glidepath (part of water charges plan) – consultation underway
Water customer handbook – consultation underway
June
Water charges plan (including allowed revenue, tariff structures and levels, and connection charging methodology) – consultation
This paper will include draft decisions on the domestic tariff structure, non-domestic tariff structure and glidepath, and connection charging policy
July
Water Customer Handbook (decision)
August
Water Charges Plan (decision)
For households fitted with an Irish Water meter when charging commences, charges will be based on usage above a free allowance. Each household will receive a free allowance of 30,000 litres of water (and a corresponding amount of waste water treated) a year. To put this in context: the average household (2.7 people) uses about 140,000 litres of water per year in relation to its primary residence.
In addition, households will receive from Irish Water a free allowance to cover a child’s normal consumption of water supplied and waste water treated so that charges only apply to adults in households.
The allowance per child will be up to 38,000 litres per annum - the level of consumption underpinning this allowance to be verified from actual metering data); charges will be based on usage above the free allowance. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) will, following public consultation, determine the water tariff as part of Irish Water’s water charges plan – the CER has indicated that this will be finalised in August.
Households connected to the public systems but without an Irish Water meter will be charged on an assessed basis, using a good proxy for usage. The CER will, following public consultation, determine the assessed water tariff as part of Irish Water’s water charges plan, which will be finalised in August.
In addition, the Minister will be issuing the CER with a direction, using his statutory powers, to provide that:
the fixing of domestic charges for 2015 and 2016;
there will be no standing charge for domestic customers for social and environmental
reasons (a minimum charge may be applied to properties that are not permanently
occupied e.g. holiday homes);
assessed charges will be based primarily on occupancy and possibly refined based on
data from metered usage to ensure that they are as close a proxy for metered usage as
possible;
the CER to ensure provision is made for retrospective adjustment of charges including a
rebate (above a reasonable threshold) in the context of transitional arrangements for
people from moving from assessed to metered home;
charges to be capped for people with high water usage due to certain medical
conditions; and
Irish Water to take account of the quality of services provided to customers, including
circumstances where services are reduced or restricted (e.g. due to boil water notices).
The Government has sought, through its decisions on the free allowance, to protect larger families and households with single occupants, groups identified through work by an inter-Departmental group (IDG) on affordability measures issues as being potentially vulnerable. These groups and people with high water usage due to medical conditions were also identified by the community and voluntary pillar of social partnership, which engaged with the IDG. The IDG will continue to work to oversee the practical administrative arrangements for the free allowance.
There will be no standing charge for domestic customers but a minimum charge may be applied to properties that are not permanently occupied e.g. holiday homes.
The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) will make a final decision on the level of water charges
in August, following public consultation on Irish Water’s water charges plan. It has commenced
public consultation on the tariff structure and design. The CER will outline decisions in June 2014
based on the outcome of this consultation and the policy direction of the Minister.
Water charges will commence on 1 October 2014, but households can expect to receive their first bills in Quarter 1 2015, with bills issued in arrears, similar to domestic electricity and gas bills.
Primary residences will receive a free household allowance. Free allowances for children will also apply to primary residences. Non-principal private residences (such as holiday homes) will not receive a free household allowance.
