Extension To The Fixed Rate Water Charges

The coalition are considering extending the time frame in which Irish households pay a fixed water charge for the year. This will allow water metres to be installed in all required households before the introduction date in 2015 and will also allow home owners to come to terms with controlling their water usage.

Fixed rate water charges, based on the number of residents in the home, currently applies where water metres have not yet been installed. Although water charges began at the beginning of October, all homes including those with water metres installed, will now have their water bills capped at the fixed rate for nine months.

Over 455,000 water metres have been installed

Irish Water have stated that over 455,000 water metres have been installed across the Republic of Ireland to date. This figure beats the expected target of 450,000 which was set to be reached by the end of 2014. Approximately 1.06 million water metres are expected to be installed by summer of 2016.

Calls for an extension on the fixed charges

A senior Coalition member has stated that the extended time frame is now under serious consideration. At the Oireachtas Environment Committee, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) were asked if the fixed charge could be extended until 2016. However, the extension period being discussed by the Government has not yet been confirmed. Measures to increase compliance with water charges are also posed for discussion.

Costs of call outs and repairs

CER Commissioner, Paul Mc Gowan, informed the committee that the CER have not yet stated the call out charges customer will face in the event of leaks or repairs. Irish Water have confirmed that a call out fee of €188 will apply for the first hour of repairing a water leak and €94 per hour thereafter. However, a Government spokesman has confirmed that these charges are currently under review.