Irish Water has defended a new billing system for business customers, after criticism from landowners and local representatives in Co Mayo.
The utility says the standardised charges were subject to widespread consultation and were well flagged in advance. However, farmers with fragmented holdings say they are putting them at a financial disadvantage.
The new charging regime was introduced last October. It standardises tariffs across the country, replacing what were hundreds of different local authority pricing schemes, with one common billing system.
But a decision to impose charges for each meter, as well as for the volume of water used non-domestically, is causing ripples of discontent in parts of the west.
Farmers in Mayo, who have connections to different parcels of land, say the approach is unfair.
Martin Murphy has a number of dispersed holdings around Kilmaine. He says he is facing additional fees in the region of €300.
"When the meters were installed by the County Council, we were told there would be just one charge. Now they're putting a cost of €43 on us for each connection, it’s just not on," he says.
The Irish Farmers Association has called for a customer charge, in place of the meter charges, arguing this would be more equitable.
The organisation's Mayo Chairman, Jarlath Walsh, explains that the historical division of land in the west raises particular issues for members in the region.
"It arises from the fragmentation of farms. It would be a west of Ireland problem, but Mayo would be more afflicted," Mr Walsh said.
"Now, you have to pay meter charges on each parcel of land. That’s unsustainable for small farmers, who they are already disadvantaged in having a fragmented farm. Having to pay the multiple meter charges is a double disadvantage."
However, Irish Water says these changes were signalled well in advance, following detailed work by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU).
The utility says it provided information to the around 190,000 customers impacted around the country last year.
Its Business Operations Manager, Geoffrey Bourke, says the new billing plan brings clarity for all those with non-domestic connections.
"There were a variety of different, complicated tariff regimes around the country prior to this decision. This led to a lack of consistency in how the system operated. Now it’s clearer, transparent and equitable," he said.
Mr Bourke said transitional arrangements were in place to mitigate any bill increases for customers in the coming months.
He said the decision to have charges per meter was arrived at following extensive consultation by the CRU. Any change to this would have to be approved by the regulator.
