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23/07/2008
Water-Mess, Says Regulator
NI's water supplier has been found guilty of flawed management by the national Utility Regulator.
The verdict on Tuesday followed an investigation which was launched after Northern Ireland Water miscalculated its expected income, leaving Ulster consumers facing higher than expected water bills.
Already, the company's former Chief Executive, Katharine Bryan, left has left her post - but with a controversial and significant pay-off - following discontent over the company's errors
The error was admitted by the company in February and is believed to have played a major part in her departure.
NI Water admitted it had made a miscalculation in its projected revenue with the shortfall estimated to be £13m this year and £20m next year.
Ian Osborne, Chief Executive of the regulator, said yesterday that it pointed to a breach of the company's licence.
He said NI Water had been ordered to commit immediately to an action plan to improve its major deficiencies: "NI Water has already given us an assurance that they will commit to implementing an action plan to improve deficiencies identified by our investigation," Mr Osborne said.
"We welcome this constructive approach from the company, and we will take the necessary action to make sure that the water company delivers on their assurances."
Meanwhile. Chris Mellor, Chairman and current Chief Executive of NI Water, said the company welcomed the report's findings.
He said: "My team and I are acutely aware of the impact that the cost apportionment issue had on public confidence and it was important that the facts surrounding it were subject to robust and independent scrutiny."
See: Water Boss Trickles Away
(BMcC)
The verdict on Tuesday followed an investigation which was launched after Northern Ireland Water miscalculated its expected income, leaving Ulster consumers facing higher than expected water bills.
Already, the company's former Chief Executive, Katharine Bryan, left has left her post - but with a controversial and significant pay-off - following discontent over the company's errors
The error was admitted by the company in February and is believed to have played a major part in her departure.
NI Water admitted it had made a miscalculation in its projected revenue with the shortfall estimated to be £13m this year and £20m next year.
Ian Osborne, Chief Executive of the regulator, said yesterday that it pointed to a breach of the company's licence.
He said NI Water had been ordered to commit immediately to an action plan to improve its major deficiencies: "NI Water has already given us an assurance that they will commit to implementing an action plan to improve deficiencies identified by our investigation," Mr Osborne said.
"We welcome this constructive approach from the company, and we will take the necessary action to make sure that the water company delivers on their assurances."
Meanwhile. Chris Mellor, Chairman and current Chief Executive of NI Water, said the company welcomed the report's findings.
He said: "My team and I are acutely aware of the impact that the cost apportionment issue had on public confidence and it was important that the facts surrounding it were subject to robust and independent scrutiny."
See: Water Boss Trickles Away
(BMcC)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
