The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has published its 2023 performance assessments on Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water).
The two reports, ‘Water Sector Customer Report‘ and ‘Uisce Éireann Performance Assessment Framework‘, incorporate performance and monitoring data provided to the CRU as well as areas of improvement regarding the performance of Ireland’s state-owned water utility, Uisce Éireann.
The Water Sector Customer Report provides information on Uisce Éireann’s customer numbers, customer water consumption and key customer related activities undertaken by Uisce Éireann such as complaints and Boil Water Notices. It also provides useful information on customer rights and entitlements.
The Performance Assessment Framework Report assesses Uisce Éireann’s overall performance in delivering defined services to its customers for the money it is allowed to spend by the CRU under its allowed revenue control (currently the RC3).
Alongside the Performance Assessment Framework Report, the CRU has also published its Non-Reporting letter to Uisce Éireann. The letter concerns Uisce Éireann’s failure to report on a number of different metrics under the Performance Assessment Framework.
Uisce Éireann Performance Assessment Framework (PAF) Monitoring Report 2023
Under the Uisce Éireann Performance Assessment Framework (PAF) Monitoring Report 2023, Uisce Éireann’s performance is measured against defined metrics by the CRU and is linked to investments totalling approx. €2 billion by UÉ across water and wastewater infrastructure in Ireland during 2023.
The CRU said it welcomed this significant investment by Uisce Éireann, and the investment delivered certain improvements, but the report also outlines some areas of underperformance and required improvement by the water utility.
Uisce Éireann’s approved Strategic Funding Plan 2025-2029 and its recent Revenue Control 4 submission to CRU provides for a forecast spend of up to €16.9 billion over the five-year period to 2029 to deliver Uisce Éireann’s capital programme and operating costs to achieve critical improvements in outcomes for customers and communities.
Water Quality
A target of zero, with regards to boil water notices, has been set by the CRU, with the objective of improving the quality of water in Irish public water systems. In 2023, 204 people were served by a supply on a drinking water restriction notice for greater than 30 days, which does not allow for any consumption for greater than 30 days during that period, representing an improvement over the period.
Data published shows 62,645 water customers were affected by boil water notices for periods longer than 30 days. This is from a customer base of over 1.8 million customers, 90% of which were domestic households and 10% were non-domestic customers, with 32,102 of these registered as vulnerable customers.
To help drive improvements in performance, Uisce Éireann has reported that it continues to invest in water treatment plant upgrades, rationalisation projects and water mains replacement projects which aim to have a positive impact on the resilience of supplies and contribute to a lower number of water restrictions being imposed.
Water Sector Customer Report (WSCR) 2023
In addition to the PAF report, the Water Sector Customer Report (WSCR) 2023 provides information on the number of customers that receive water/wastewater services. According to the WSCR, Uisce Éireann connected an additional 23,345 customers throughout this period, highlighting its increased demand and commitment to accelerating national housing targets.
Uisce Éireann has estimated that 10% of metered households accounted for c. 37% of total water consumption and the top 1% (approximately 9,000 households), accounted for c. 15% of total metered household demand, indicating a high leakage rate in these households.
Uisce Éireann’s data outlines that the top 10% of households on average used 464,000 litres (15.9 baths per day) of water in 2023, compared to the average household that used 125,600 litres (4.3 baths per day). The top 1% of households used on average 1.9 million litres (63.6 baths per day).
In addressing this, the CRU acknowledges the success of Uisce Éireann’s First Fix Scheme which has seen water savings of 235 million litres per day, the equivalent of 2.9 million baths a day, since its introduction in 2015. Under the First Fix Scheme, domestic customers may be entitled to a free leak repair if they have a leak in their driveway or garden.
As noted in the report, the CRU welcomes the 4% decrease reported in unplanned interruptions to the water supply and said it is keen to see this upward trajectory continue year on year.
The CRU said it recognises the urgency of progress that has been made by Uisce Éireann is important through the Uisce Éireann Transformation (UÉT) Programme, that is due to conclude by 2027, as it seeks to bring all systems and operations under one national utility.
The CRU reports for 2023 can be found here.
