The Water and Sewerage Charges Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

Charging by reference to volume

6.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), an undertaker shall not charge a qualifying consumer by reference to volume where a water undertaker is required, as a condition of making a connection, to install a meter under Article 81(2) of the Order.

(2) An undertaker shall fix charges for which a qualifying consumer is liable by reference to volume where the measured charges payable by the qualifying consumer are lower than the affordability tariffs.

(3) Where an undertaker is obliged to fix charges by reference to volume under Article 204 of the Order (right of consumer to elect for charging by reference to volume) and the period of 12 months mentioned in paragraph 204(5) has elapsed without the consumer exercising their right to revoke a measured charges notice under Article 205(5), the undertaker shall cease to fix charges by reference to volume if—

(a) the consumer (not being a qualifying consumer) who gave the measured charges notice in respect of the premises concerned becomes a qualifying consumer and the charges payable by the consumer would be lower if they were charged the relevant affordability tariffs; or

(b) a consumer who has not previously given a measured charges notice in respect of the premises concerned becomes the consumer in respect of those premises and is, or becomes, a qualifying consumer and the charges payable by the consumer would be lower if they were charged the relevant affordability tariffs.