Irish Water has confirmed that household owners can expect to receive their first bill, issued from Irish Water, between April and June 2015. The first bill that householders will receive will cover the period from 1st January to 31st March 2015. The particular type of bill each householder will receive is based on the information already provided to Irish Water and will contain different details depending on whether or not you have an Irish Water meter fitted at your property. If you have a meter fitted, your bill will tell you how much water you have used during the period for which the bill has issued.
Even if you have a water meter fitted to your property, the quarterly bill will be capped to the maximum rate for your household type, so you will not have to pay any more than this maximum capped rate. The capped charges will apply until 31st December 2018. They vary depending on the number of adults in your household and whether your house is serviced by both a public water supply and a public wastewater treatment supply or just one of these services.
Where a household has the benefit of a water meter and your meter usage is lower than the capped charge level, your bill will be less than the capped rate. If you do not have a water meter fitted at your property, your bill will be fixed at the relevant capped rate, but after your meter has been installed, you will get a rebate if your metered usage, over a one year period, turns out to be lower than the capped level.
In the case of a household, for example, with 2 adults and 2 children who have the benefit of both a public water supply and a wastewater service supply, they will receive a yearly capped bill of €260.00. The bills will issue quarterly so that is €65 per quarter. You may however be entitled to apply for the water conservation grant of €100.00.
This water conservation grant is available to each household that registers with Irish Water by 30th July 2015, even if the household has its own private water supply and wastewater services. The grant will be paid by the Department of Social Protection from September 2015. This grant is only available to all households in respect of their principal private dwelling and not their second home. Full details about the grant are due to be announced in due course.
Irish Water have advised that if you do not pay your bills , your water will not be cut off nor will your water supply be reduced, but late payment charges will accrue on your account. These late payment charges apply after 12 months of non-payment, if you do not enter into a payment plan or do not comply with an agreed plan. Again, the late payment charges vary depending on the number of adults in your household and whether your house is serviced by both a public water supply and a public wastewater treatment supply or just one of these services. e.g. if your house uses both a public water supply and a public wastewater service and is occupied by two or more adults, with or without children, the late payment charge per annum is €60.00. The same amount will be added on the anniversary of the first penalty while the bill remains unpaid or for as long as a customer has not entered into a payment plan.
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