The Utility Regulator (1) today published its first Cost and Performance report (2) on NI Water. The Report examines how NI Water performed against business plan targets and compares NI Water’s performance with other water and sewerage companies across the UK.
Commenting on the Report, Iain Osborne, Chief Executive of the Utility Regulator said:
“Our objective assessment is that NI Water has made real progress in certain areas over the last year. There have been discernable improvements in operational efficiency, service targets regarding unplanned interruptions and leakage, as well as wastewater treatment (3).
While these improvements are welcome, there is a need for NI Water to deliver further efficiencies, produce robust capital investment plans and address its data systems and processes. Our recent engagement with NI Water on data systems and processes has led to the water company committing to undertakings to improve this area of its business. We look forward to engaging further with NI Water to address other areas of improvement.”
Commenting on the comparison with other water companies in the UK, Jo Aston, Director of Water at the Utility Regulator said:
“At one level, NI Water clearly has some way to go before it matches performance with the top performing water companies in other parts of the UK. Yet it is also important to place comparisons with other UK water and sewerage companies in context, and the fact that those in England and Wales have been subject to economic regulation for almost 20 years.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
(1) The Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (the Utility Regulator) is the non-Ministerial Government Department responsible for regulating the electricity and gas industries and water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland.
(2) NI Water Cost and Performance Report .
(3) NI Water has outperformed the operational expenditure projections of its business plan by £3.1 million, exceeded its level of service targets for unplanned interruptions and leakage and met its targets for wastewater treatment.
(4) Media contact: Greg Irwin (0779 4965911).