Infrastructure Minister has confirmed installation of water meters at domestic properties will cease
Minister Hazzard has instructed NI Water to cease any further installation of water meters in domestic properties while legislation is brought to the Assembly.
Regulations are required to be brought to the Assembly before the installation of water meters in domestic properties can be stopped completely. The Minister has confirmed this will be done as soon as possible.
He said: “I have instructed NI Water not to install any more water meters at domestic properties in the north.
“In the current financial climate, the continued waste of public money to install meters which will not be used cannot continue.
”Regulations are currently being drafted and consultation on these is legally required. Meanwhile I have instructed NI Water to cease this work immediately.
“My officials will now begin consultation on the draft regulations so there is no further delay in dealing with this issue. Regulations will be brought to the Assembly after the summer recess.”
UFU Disappointed At Minister’s Decision To Cease Domestic Water Meter Installation
The Ulster Farmers’ Union said it is disappointed by Infrastructure Minister, Chris Hazard’s decision to cease any further installation of water meters in domestic properties while legislation is brought to the Assembly to stop this completely.
Back in March 2015 NI Water increased its non-domestic water and sewage charges by an average of 2.4%, resulting in farmers and other metered businesses continuing to carry the burden of water charges for the whole of Northern Ireland.
UFU deputy president Ivor Ferguson said: “At the time NI Water had said that the tariff increases were necessary due to ‘unavoidable external factors impacting on operating costs’ and that ‘the cost of necessary improvements to the water and sewage infrastructure’ but we feel it is discriminatory for metered business customers, and in particular farmers, to be expected to continue to cover these costs for the whole of the NI population.
“We have been of the opinion for years that everyone should pay for the water they use and that universal metering should be introduced by NI Water but we also recognise that this would bring added costs to domestic home owners at a difficult economic time.”
Mr Ferguson added that there are a number of advantages to universal metering, such as generating much needed funds for NI Water; more responsible water use by consumers; it would allow for leaks to be identified more readily; and NI Water would be able to ensure that all their customers were treated equally.
The UFU will respond to the consultation when issued, representing the views of its 12,000 members.
