Water users to pay 'standing charge' even if they don't use water

Irish Water says metered water users will face a 'standing charge', irrespective of whether they use any water.

It has said it expects water bills to have a standing charge to cover the costs of running the water network.

The energy regulator will decide later this year how much users will be charged for water services.

However, head of customer relations Paul O'Donoghue says there are costs to running the network, even if someone doesn't use the service.

Mr O'Donoghue said: "In water those significant costs are maintaining reservoirs, adding chemicals to water so that it is drinking quality standard, pumping and moving water between places and using energy.

"So those are all costs, whether or not anybody uses it. So our expectation is that there will be a fixed element to the bill."

SOURCE-IRISH NEWS