|
The continuing debate surrounding the introduction of a metered water charge has
obscured some of the main issues surrounding the new system; Sligo County
Council has pointed out that a considerable number of customers are only paying
a basic standing charge as they are within their domestic allowance of 50,000
gallons per year. This concession does not apply to farmers alone, but also
makes a significant difference to shops, public houses and other businesses who
were previously on a fixed charge.
According to a spokesperson for Sligo County Council ‘The reality is that many
instances bills are lower under the metering system than the fixed charge.’ (See
examples below). ‘We would expect that farmers and other non-domestic consumers
will have lower bills provided they do not allow overflow and wastage. The
bottom line is that as the bill is based on usage, people are in control of what
they pay.’
The main concern voiced by non-domestic consumers had surrounded the amount of
the standing charge of €80 per connection, and this has now been changed in the
2007 charges.
The standing charge is now capped at €140 for consumers with multiple
connections, which represents a substantial saving for many farmers. For
example, a farmer with 4 connections and using 75,000 gallons in excess of
domestic allowance would have paid €704.75 in 2006, and will be paying €566 in
2007. This is also lower than the fixed rate levied in 2005 of €644. These
savings are also evident for consumers with up to eight connections.
Sligo County Council is organising a further information campaign to advise
customers on the new charging system, and a ‘Water Conservation’ day will be
held to outline useful hints on monitoring water usage. Schools in the county
have also shown an interest in promoting the issue of water conservation through
the popular ‘Green Schools’ programme. A practical example for reducing usage is
that in most cases cattle are housed in slatted sheds during winter months and
farmers can make significant savings by using rainwater for this period.
Comparisons
Example 1
Usage of 10,000 gallons in addition to domestic allowance (1 connection)
| Charge 2005 |
Charge 2006 |
Charge 2007 |
| €322 |
€131.30 |
€136.80 |
Example 2
Usage of 15,000 gallons in addition to domestic allowance (2 connections)
| Charge 2005 |
Charge 2006 |
Charge 2007 |
| €537 |
€236.95 |
€185.20 |
Example 3
Usage of 25,000 gallons in addition to domestic allowance (3 connections)
| Charge 2005 |
Charge 2006 |
Charge 2007 |
| €644 |
€368.25 |
€262.00 |
Example 4
Usage of 50,000 gallons in addition to domestic allowance (4connections)
| Charge 2005 |
Charge 2006 |
Charge 2007 |
| €644 |
€576.50 |
€424 |
A spokesperson for the Council acknowledged that ‘there will always be a level
of uncertainty surrounding any new charge, but if people take the time to study
their bill, they may find that they are actually paying less than before. We are
available at any time to help people with any concern they may have – whether to
discuss water conservation, reducing the number of connections, or simply
reading the meter.’
|