Utility Regulator Consults on Modifications Northern Ireland Water Licence

Today the Utility Regulator is publishing a statutory notice under Article 20 (2) of the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. We are proposing to modify Condition F of the instrument of appointment (the Licence) granted to NIW at paragraph 6A.

We intend to defer the attainment of a shadow credit rating from 1st September 2007 to 31st March 2008. The Northern Ireland Assembly have taken a decision not to implement Domestic Charging in 2007/08 and have commissioned an Independent Review of the financing of Water and Sewerage Services in the longer term, the findings of this review will be published in December 2007. These factors impact on the ability and value of NIW achieving a shadow credit rating by 1st September 2007. Following the publication of the independent review’s findings in December 2007, NIW will be better placed to attain the shadow credit rating hence the defermrnt to 31st March 2008.

The public notice can be viewed by clicking [ HERE ] and the text of the modifications being proposed can be viewed by clicking [ HERE ] or alternatively a paper copy of can be obtained by contacting either Peter Naylor or David Flinn at:

Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation
Queens House,
14 Queen Street,
Belfast, BT1 6ER
or by telephone on 028 311575
or by Fax. on 028 90 311740
or email peter.naylor@niaur.gov.uk or david.flinn@niaur.gov.uk

As per the attached notice, the Utility Regulator welcomes representations and/or objections from all interested parties as to the short modification being proposed.

The consultation period ends on 17 August 2007.

Copies of the notice will be made available in large print, Braille, audio cassette and a variety of relevant minority languages if required.

Notes for Editors

The Utility Regulator is the informal name for the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (NIAUR) the regulator of the Electrcity, Gas and Water and Sewerage industries in Northern Ireland. NIAUR’s powers are derived from the Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992, the Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 as amended by the Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 and the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.

For further information contact:-

Conall McDevitt, Weber Shandwick Tel: 028 90764911, 07770 886933