The Consumer Council History

Event

Department of the Environment issues a consultation on water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland.

A further consultation on water reform was issued by the Department for Regional Development.

It was announced that the Water Service was to become a Government Owned Company (Go-Co) as soon as practicable after April 2006.  From April 2006 direct water charges would be introduced for everyone. It was also announced that the Consumer Council would become the consumer representative for water and sewerage customers.

Water charges deferred.  Minister Woodward announced a new timetable with charges set to be introduced in April 2007.

Draft Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 published.

The Consumer Council seeks a Judicial Review on the proposed water legislation.The Court decided that the Government had not listened adequately to the consumers’ voice in drawing up this important legislation and issued a High Court Declaration to Parliament.

Draft Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 passes through the House of Lords.

A Supply Licence was awarded to Northern Ireland Water (NI Water) to become effective from 1 April 2007.

Water charges deferred.  Direct Rule Minister announces the deferment of water charges to allow consideration by the NI Assembly.

The Consumer Council begins its new role as consumer representative for water and sewerage customers. Water Service becomes NI Water, a Go-Co.

Water charges deferred.  NI Executive announces that charges will not be introduced in 2007/08.

The Minister for Regional Development appoints an independent water review panel to examine the delivery of water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland.

The review panel’s Phase 1 report is published.  NI Executive acknowledges consumers have made a contribution towards water and sewerage services through their regional rates and this will be the only contribution in 2008/09. New non-domestic charges will be introduced in a phased approach.

The review panel’s Phase 2 report is published. The report confirmed that the unique Affordability Tariff, designed by the Consumer Council, successfully targets the people that need it most. The report also made recommendations about the management, governance and delivery of water and sewerage services. NI Executive to consider both reports and decide the way forward.

A further deferment of domestic water charges was announced meaning there would be no domestic charges in 2009-2010.  

The Minister for Regional Development announced that he had circulated a paper to the NI Executive proposing a further three years deferral on domestic water charges.

The Minister for Regional Development introduced the Water and Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill to the NI Assembly for scrutiny and discussion. This amendment will allow the Department for Regional Development to extend the period in which the Department can pay subsidy to NI Water for three years.

The NI Executive continues to consider the way forward for the delivery of water and sewerage services in NI.

December 2010

The Northern Ireland Assembly Public Accounts Committee publishes its report into Measuring Performance, Procurement and Governance in NI Water. The report identified significant flaws in procurement and governance arrangements of NI Water. The report details reccommendations for improvement going forward.

The Northern Ireland Executive publish its report into the Freeze/Thaw incident 2010/2011 when 450,000 consumers had their water supply interrupted during adverse weather conditions. The report makes a series of recommendations on how NI Water can be better prepared to handle the effects of similar weather conditions in the future.