Cork Chamber concerned at potential water tariff increases

Economic competitiveness must be prioritised in the new non-domestic water tariffs framework, Cork Chamber has said.

The chamber of commerce made its call in a submission to the recent public consultation by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) on Uisce Éireann’s Non-Domestic Tariff Framework.

The representative body for Cork business urged the CRU to consider the potential impact on economic competitiveness before introducing any water tariff increases for business customers.

Conor Healy, CEO of Cork Chamber, said Uisce Éireann must have sufficient funding to provide efficient water and wastewater services, but this should be achieved through exchequer funding, not by increasing charges for businesses. 

Uncertainty

“The examination of Uisce Éireann’s non-domestic tariff framework comes at a time of significant uncertainty for the business community,” he said.

“Concerns regarding the increased cost of doing business, exacerbated by the potential implications of US tariffs, continue to impact businesses of all sizes from SMEs to large indigenous and multinational organisations.”

Mr Healy said supporting the business community and enhancing Ireland’s economic competitiveness must be prioritised in all decision-making, and any increase in the cost burden for businesses should be mitigated wherever possible.

“Uisce Éireann needs sustained capital funding allocations to enable it to make necessary investments in water infrastructure, facilitating upgrades to the network and new connections.

“All new developments across the country, from much-needed housing to vital industrial and commercial developments, depend on the availability of timely connections to water services,” he said.

Planning

The Chamber CEO added that, in the current context of housing demand and ongoing infrastructural developments, Uisce Éireann must align its planning to local and national development plans, as well as to the plans of other providers of critical utilities and developers.

“It is vital that Uisce Éireann has the resources to work proactively, ensuring that zoned lands are prepared for development in a timely manner.

“Government must consider increasing the capital allocation for Uisce Éireann to enable the utility provider to carry out the maintenance, upgrade and future-proofing of Ireland’s water network that is so critically needed,” Mr Healy said.

“Multi-annual government funding should be made available to provide certainty around the delivery of large-scale capital investment projects — what is crucial is that the cost of necessary investments in our water services is not passed on to businesses, particularly in the current climate of economic uncertainty.”