12/10/2007
Hold Likely On Water Charges
Local households should not be billed twice for their water and therefore should not be asked to pay the new, controversial water charges until April 2009, a report has said.
The analysis, produced for the Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy, looked into the previous (direct rule) ministers' 2004 proposals on water and sewerage services.
Mr Murphy said he would now be assessing the review along with his colleagues on the Executive.
"I expect the Executive to take decisions on the report shortly and I will make an announcement to the Assembly after that," he said.
The General Consumer Council has welcomed the report and said that the proposed average household bill in 2009 would be £120, if adopted, instead of the £334 envisaged under direct rule.
A spokeswoman said these charges would be in addition to the £160 on average already paid for water and sewage services through rates.
She said: "People would have lower bills than they expected because they would not pay for water twice or pay any more until April 2009 when water will be clearly identified on the rates bill."
(BMcC)
The analysis, produced for the Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy, looked into the previous (direct rule) ministers' 2004 proposals on water and sewerage services.
Mr Murphy said he would now be assessing the review along with his colleagues on the Executive.
"I expect the Executive to take decisions on the report shortly and I will make an announcement to the Assembly after that," he said.
The General Consumer Council has welcomed the report and said that the proposed average household bill in 2009 would be £120, if adopted, instead of the £334 envisaged under direct rule.
A spokeswoman said these charges would be in addition to the £160 on average already paid for water and sewage services through rates.
She said: "People would have lower bills than they expected because they would not pay for water twice or pay any more until April 2009 when water will be clearly identified on the rates bill."
(BMcC)
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