A family with two adults will pay €278 a year in water charges according to figures released by the water regulator this morning.
The Commission for Energy Regulation has decided that all 1.35 million customers of the controversial Irish Water organisation will pay an assessed or average charge for nine months after the charges come into effect tomorrow.
The assessed charge, based on average consumption of households of similar size, will apply until July, after which those with a meter installed will pay based upon consumption. This means a family of one adult will pay €176 a year for their drinking and waste water. Children will not be charged. Instead each child will receive 21,000 litres of ‘free’ water per year, and the CER has promised to monitor usage of minors to ensure they do not incur a bill.
The charge per additional adult is €102 per year. This means the charge for a family with two adults will be €278 a year, rising to €381 for three adults, €483 for four and €586 for five. The cost per 1,000 litres of drinking water is €2.44, and the same tariff applies for wastewater.
Anybody with a meter found to be using less will be refunded the difference once charging moves to a consumption-based system. If a leak is identified by Irish Water in a customer’s premises, charge will be capped at the assessed rate until it is fixed.
Customers will not pay for water deemed unfit for human consumption, if a boil water notice is in place for 24 hours.
The charge for holiday homes and “non-primary” residences has been reduced from €160 to €125 per year, or €62.50 per service.
The CER said it would monitor Irish Water’s spending to ensure it delivered value for money.
