17/09/2014

CER Confirm 100% Charge Exemption For Long-Term Boil Water Homes

Domestic water supplies affected by long-term boil water notices will be 100% exempt from drinking water charges with immediate effect when the billing system is introduced on 01 October, Fine Gael has said.

The party's candidate for the Roscommon/South Leitrim by-election, Maura Hopkins, has said that the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has confirmed that households under long-term boil water notices won't be charged.

"This 100% waiver is currently in proposal form but confirmation that it will be set in stone when the billing regime commences will come as welcome relief to thousands of affected households," Councillor Hopkins said.

Adding: "Some people's water quality issues stretch back more than ten years and I am pleased to get clarity for many people, especially across Roscommon, who are rightly worrying about paying for water which is unfit for human consumption.

"The CER's proposed definition of long-term boil water notices is 3 months or more but I hope this regulator will also look favourably at revising the proposed 50% discount for those on boil water notices for three months or less. I am pleased to say though that a CER spokesperson did confirm to me that the current definitions of both long-term and short-term time boil water notices are being examined again with the benefit of the consumer in mind.

(MH/IT)

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