Business charges

Uisce Éireann manages all aspects of business water accounts including billing for water services.

Important note on new charges

In line with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) decision on non-domestic tariffs a new set of national water and wastewater business charges came into effect on the 1 October 2021.

Why were the new charges implemented?

There were over 44 different business charging regimes with over 500 different price levels across the country. As a result, customers with similar water services paid different amounts depending on their location. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) held a number of consultations on the future water tariffs for business customers.

A final decision on the charges was published on 3 July 2019 by the CRU and it went live on 1 October 2021.

A fair charging framework

Uisce Éireann welcomed the final decision which sets out a national set of charges that will be transparent, cost reflective, and equitable for all businesses countrywide.

Key changes are:

  • National charges as opposed to individual Local Authority charges
  • Charges which reflect the actual costs of providing water services to the business sector
  • Increases or decreases in charges for business customers depending on current charges
  • Transitional arrangements to ensure bill changes are implemented fairly and with time to plan ahead
  • Four separate tariff classes for metered connections: Bands 1 - 4

Who is affected

The new business charges will apply to both business customers and mixed-use customers who use water services for both business and domestic purposes. Public Group Water Schemes will move to the new business charges on 1 Oct 2022 and will benefit from the same transitional arrangements as all other Business Customers albeit for two years. Uisce Éireann will grant domestic allowances to bulk metered Public Group Water Schemes according to the number of dwellings connected to the scheme. For more information on group water schemes.

Managing the changes

Transitioning customers - changes came into effect on 1 October 2021, customers in transition will move to year two on 1 October 2022.

  • Uisce Éireann to apply the new enduring tariffs to customers whose annual bill is expected to decrease or increase by no more than €250 from 1 October 2021.
  • For customers that are estimated to face an increase of between €250 and €750 in their annual bill, Uisce Éireann will transition these connections to their enduring tariffs over three years from 1 October 2021.
  • For customers that are estimated to face an increase of €750 or greater in their annual bill, Uisce Éireann is to automatically apply a 10% cap to the annual increase over three years starting from 1 October 2021. Customers can opt-out of receiving this cap​.
  • Charging arrangements for Public Group Water Schemes will also get the same transition mechanism as above but this will be for two rather than three years starting from 1 October 2022.

Further information


New tariff classes and rates

Tariff Class

Annual Consumption (m³)

Band 1 Less than 1,000m³
Band 2 Between 1,000m³ and 19,999m³
Band 3 Between 20,000 and 249,999m³
Band 4 Equal to or greater than 250,000m³

New metered enduring tariff rates

 Water Service Charges Wastewater Service Charges Combined Service Charges 
Metered Tariffs

Standing Charge (€/year)

Volumetric Charge (€/m³)

Standing Charge (€/year)

Volumetric Charge (€/m³)

Standing Charge (€/year)

Volumetric Charge (€/m³)

Band 1 Class (<1,000m³) 43.76 1.87 44.81 1.92 88.57 3.79
Band 2 Class (1,000m³ - 19,999m³)

113.31

1.30 135.79 1.82 249.10 3.12
Band 3 Class (20,000m³ - 249,999m³ ) 1,872.98 1.21 1,969.50 1.81 3,842.48 3.02
Band 4 Class (>250,000m³) 21,771.46 1.05 25,266.78 1.75 47,038.24 2.80

Unmetered tariffs

 

Water Service Charges

Wastewater Service Charges

Combined Service Charges

Unmetered Tariffs

(€/year)

(€/year) (€/year)

Band 1*

260.35 243.14 503.49
Band 2 1,413.31 1955.79 3,369.10
* 99% of unmetered customers will fall into Band 1, for more information please see our FAQs below

VAT

The application of VAT and the timing of its introduction is a matter for the Government. Water supply and wastewater collection services are currently exempt from VAT with the exception of Tankered Waste, Sludge, and Leachate.

Previous water rates and charges

Prior to 1 October 2021, Uisce Éireann maintained the water charge rates of each Local Authority which were applied on 31 December 2013.

View your previous rates and charges

Enter the name of your Local Authority in the search box to view your previous water charges.

Annual Quantity for Non-Domestic Customers

An Annual Quantity (AQ) will be calculated once a year for every non-domestic metered connection

Business Charges

The annual Domestic Allowance is 213,000 litres (213m³) as of 1st October 2021.

Check your bill. If you are in receipt of a Domestic Allowance this will be shown as a credit line item separate to your charges.

Eligibility for a Domestic Allowance depends on whether your premise is categorised as Mixed Use  and whether your premises is metered – See Customer Categorisation for more details.

Yes, a Domestic Allowance only applies to metered Mixed Use Customers.

If your premise is categorised as mixed use and it is metered, please call our Business Team on 0818 778 778 / International +353 1 707 2827.

No, this new allowance of 213,000 litres (213m³) will automatically apply from 1st October 2021. However, if your premise has been re-categorised from Mixed Use to Non Domestic then you will no longer be eligible for a Domestic Allowance.