The Utility Regulator today publishes its price control determination for NI Water for the period 2015-21 (also referred to as PC15). The determination is the Regulator’s assessment of NI Water’s revenue requirements over the six-year period in the context of meeting targets contained within the Department for Regional Development’s Social and Environmental Guidance.
This determination will result in challenging but achievable outcomes including:
• lower bills for most water and sewerage (business) consumers - the majority of consumers will see reductions in bills under our price control;
• improved efficiency – challenging NI Water to deliver 11.5% real terms reduction in total operating expenditure by 2021 - building upon improved efficiency achieved within our first two price controls;
• continued significant investment in water and sewerage services - NI Water will continue to invest to maintain the existing assets and improve compliance with EU quality targets; and
• improvements in levels of service - current service measures 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 price control determination, Utility Regulator Chief Executive, Jenny Pyper, said:
“The publication of our price control determination marks the culmination of a two-year review which has involved a comprehensive process of analysis and assessment. We are also grateful for the ongoing engagement with key stakeholders and the views provided by consumers.
“Our focus, as ever, is on delivering positive outcomes for water and sewerage consumers. Our challenging determination builds on the progress made during previous price controls, ensuring that NI Water continues on its journey of improvement, and will bring lower bills, improved efficiency, continued investment and improvements in levels of service.
“As NI Water is partly funded by Government subsidy, any reductions in public expenditure allocations may impact on the implementation of the price control determination. The final determination therefore provides for a process that will enable us to address such a scenario and will ensure that the company delivers the best possible package of outputs within the funding available”.