UR announces consultation on price control proposals for NI Water

The Utility Regulator today publishes its draft price control determination for NI Water for the period 2015-21 (also referred to as PC15).  The draft determination is the Regulator’s assessment of NI Water’s revenue requirements over the six-year period.

Our draft price control proposals will lead to:

• lower bills for consumers  - the majority of consumers will see reductions in bills under our price control;

• improved efficiency – delivering 13% real terms reduction in total operating expenditure by 2021 - building upon improved efficiency achieved within the first two price controls;

• continued significant investment in water and sewerage services - NI Water will continue to invest in the existing network to deliver the required capital maintenance and will also invest in new network to meet EU quality targets; and

• improvements in levels of service - current service measures (pipe burst rates and interruptions to supply) will be maintained, the number of properties at risk of low pressure or internal flooding will be reduced and new consumer service measures will be introduced.

Commenting on the proposals, Utility Regulator Chief Executive, Jenny Pyper, said:

“Our focus is on delivering positive outcomes for water and sewerage consumers – lower bills for non-domestic consumers, improved efficiency, continued investment in our water and sewerage services and improvements in levels of service. It is encouraging that NI Water has exceeded the targets that we set during previous price control periods. Our proposals will further challenge the company to build on this performance and move further along the pathway towards the most improved water and sewerage company in the UK.”

The proposals are now being publicly consulted on.  Following the consultation a final PC15 determination will be published before the end of the year.