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A standard terrace home which may have 7/8 radiators, an upstairs bathroom with shower, a downstairs toilet, a fitted kitchen with mixture taps, washing machine, dish washer etc. A home capable of receiving the supply they estimated when assessing the proposed bills. 4. However, they admit having taken no account of a property incapable of receiving the estimated supply. For example: An un-renovated home may have none of these facilities and are to be charged based on consultant's flawed model / mathematics. In most cases the water sources to an un-renovated home are likely to be a kitchen tap and an outside toilet. As such these properties are incapable of receiving the amount of water estimated and it is unreasonable to assume that such a delivery could be used as they lack the facilities to use it. 5. I have spoken to Ms. Katherine Bryan on this matter and her promise to ensure it was addressed has failed to materialise. Despite there being thousands of such properties in Northern Ireland Ms Bryan stated she knew of no such homes which fell into this category and initially refused to accept that such homes existed. 6. The Water Service having been informed of their flawed business model advised me, that people in such homes did not need to be considered again, for although they were not considered in the first place and although their homes are incapable or receiving or using the supply estimated in the proposed bills, 'these people' would already get a discount for they would either be old, unemployed or on state benefit and that 'those people' already get a discount. It was pointed out to the Water Service that their comments demonstrated unjust discrimination in my view, which blinded their ability to do their job, for persons who are elderly, unemployed or on state benefit are entitled to such discounts, the property type being irrelevant. This did not negate their duty to consider all stakeholders, their circumstance, their property, their estimated usage based strictly upon that home. Conclusion It is vital that you clarify your position on the above points and indicate a review to consider such homes appropriately and in accordance with your statutory duty. One thing is clear at present, should your department continue to use a business model based on the estimated delivery of a certain amount of water, to homes incapable of accepting or using it, without having considered them as unique stakeholders, then there remains scope for legal argument. I would be grateful for an urgent response to this correspondence. |
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