Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2024
385. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will expand the powers of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in respect of investigating failures by Uisce Éireann to provide an adequate service. [24791/24]
View answer386. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the adequacy of powers of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in respect of service provision by Uisce Éireann, particularly in respect of the prohibition on investigation until such a time as Uisce Éireann has completed the complaint process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24792/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 386 together.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) as the economic regulator of Uisce Éireann also has a role to protect customers by setting quality of service standards and ensuring customers are treated fairly.
The CRU approves the Uisce Éireann Codes of Practice through its publication of the Domestic and Non-Domestic Customer Handbooks. The standards set in the Handbooks must be met by Uisce Éireann’s. If CRU has reason to suspect that Uisce Éireann has failed to adhere to its Codes of Practice, it may initiate an investigation. Where the CRU finds such a failure to have occurred, it can direct Uisce Éireann to comply.
The CRU has wide-ranging “customer dispute resolution” powers as provided for under section 8 of the Water Services Act 2014. Where a customer completes the Uisce Éireann complaints process and is not satisfied with the outcome, the complaint can then be escalated to CRU who may commence an investigation of the complaint.
The legislation provides that Uisce Éireann “shall comply with all reasonable requests for information by the Commission in carrying out an investigation into a complaint”. The legislation also provides that “Uisce Éireann shall comply with any requirement made of it in a determination”. These legislative provisions are consistent with the equivalent legislation in relation to energy disputes.
I am satisfied that the CRU have the relevant statutory powers to allow them to carry out their role in protecting Uisce Éireann customers.
