Are You going to pay the Water Charge?

nvidic wrote: OohAah... wrote: nvidic wrote: There's no chance anyone would commit political suicide and privatise it Given the furore over waste, why would they spend millions on a referendum?! Correct me if I'm wrong but there's no similar clause about any other site utility in there The Bailout and Troika Deals, were  examples that extreme decisions are taken by government that political suicide is not relevent.  Also there is ways of manipualting people to beileve privatisiation is a better option. They will cite cheaper service charges. All they have to do is ramp up pricing for a few years, people will moan and they will say running it as a semi state isnt competitive its better to privatise it. No your right there is no such clause for any utility, however on principle water could be as it is a basic human need. Then why no clamour to have a referendum on the ESB, or the national grid? It's highly unlikely to happen, the bank guarantee was suicidal in hindsight alright but there was next to no significant protests at the time, very differnt to now.

The way to privatise it is a similar way to the way electricity has been privatised - firstly, establish Irish Water, like Bord Gais Networks, or Eirgrid. Then have Irish Water sell off the reservoirs and treatment systems to private companies (like selling off power plants) while IW retain the pipe network and the responsibility to keep it in good repair. Then, make the change from the consumers' perspective: instead of consumers paying IW, pay the company putting the water into the system, and IW's expenses in maintaining the network are paid by the suppliers, on a pro-rated basis based on market share, rather than the consumers. The suppliers then compete with each other in terms of who can supply water into the network on the cheapest basis.

Of course, the treatment of waste water would likely need to remain in IW's hands, which is a difference from the gas and electric networks, but as systems go, they could easily privatise water that way, without even needing to privatise the company they have set up, Irish Water. In fact, I would be surprised if Irish Water didn't start to tender private companies for the supply of water once they are up and running, especially in respect of treatment plants.

Irish water will have to allow competition into the market. The whole thing will end up like the gas, electricity, the phone lines etc. You can bet your bottom dollar there are already some Water Companies set up to come into the market.

SuperDave84 wrote: The way to privatise it is a similar way to the way electricity has been privatised - firstly, establish Irish Water, like Bord Gais Networks, or Eirgrid. Then have Irish Water sell off the reservoirs and treatment systems to private companies (like selling off power plants) while IW retain the pipe network and the responsibility to keep it in good repair. Then, make the change from the consumers' perspective: instead of consumers paying IW, pay the company putting the water into the system, and IW's expenses in maintaining the network are paid by the suppliers, on a pro-rated basis based on market share, rather than the consumers. The suppliers then compete with each other in terms of who can supply water into the network on the cheapest basis. Of course, the treatment of waste water would likely need to remain in IW's hands, which is a difference from the gas and electric networks, but as systems go, they could easily privatise water that way, without even needing to privatise the company they have set up, Irish Water. In fact, I would be surprised if Irish Water didn't start to tender private companies for the supply of water once they are up and running, especially in respect of treatment plants.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/water/irish-water-crisis/rogue-group-of-fairies-will-come-and-make-your-water-meter-disappear-31271846.html

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Edited by Tippbiffo - 02 Jun 2015 at 7:56pm

Do you know the way they say they will cut you off to a dribble if you don't pay? Did they specify what the lowest pressure of water they can cut you down to?
On a scheme where I am so doesn't affect me but just curious

Denis O'Brien put's in the watermeters, his barriers protect the Dail from protesters and you can be sure when it does eventually come up for privatisation he will be first in line.
We have registered but I don't intend paying.

colmoc wrote: Do you know the way they say they will cut you off to a dribble if you don't pay? Did they specify what the lowest pressure of water they can cut you down to? On a scheme where I am so doesn't affect me but just curious

they said they won't be cutting peoples water down to a trickle, a move like that could bring the gun back onto irish politics