Pensioners get water meter choice

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7415597.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Pensioners in Northern Ireland will be offered the option of installing a water meter, under proposals discussed by the Stormont Executive.

A maximum water charge of £775 next year, rising to £950 the year after, is also being proposed by Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy.

The executive discussed the controversial issue on Thursday.

A paper from Mr Murphy ruled out giving every consumer a meter now, but said new properties should have them fitted.

It proposed that 70,000 pensioners should have the option of installing a meter without paying an upfront charge.

A series of tables set out what most people might pay for water based on the value of their homes.

Next spring's water charges range from a low of £122 per household to a maximum of £775 for those living in expensive homes.

However, costs are set to rise steeply in 2010 up to a maximum water charge of £950 a year for those whose homes are worth £280,000 or more.

According to the paper, this £950 figure is actually higher than would have been the case under the direct rule proposal.

However, consumers are due to get a reduction in their general rates bill, and the department argues that once that is taken into account everyone will still be paying less than they would if devolution had not been restored.