The Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006

Further provisions relating to charging by volume

209.—(1) The Department may by regulations make such provision, supplementing—

(a) the provisions of this Chapter; and

(b) so far as they relate to works for purposes connected with the fixing of charges in relation to any premises by reference to volume, the provisions of Part VIII,

as it considers appropriate with respect to the installation of meters, with respect to the connection, disconnection, use, maintenance, authentication and testing of meters and with respect to any related matters.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), regulations under that paragraph may—

(a) regulate the positioning, whether inside or outside the building or other premises in relation to which the meter is to be used, of any meter or of any pipes or apparatus appearing to any relevant undertaker to be required for the purpose of facilitating the use of any meter;

(b) require a relevant undertaker who, for the purpose of meeting the needs of a disabled person—

(i) alters the position of any meter;

(ii) installs an additional meter; or

(iii) does any other work in connection with any meter,

to bear any expenses incurred by the undertaker in doing so;

(c) make any other provision which appears to the Department to be appropriate with respect to any such pipes or apparatus;

(d) provide for a reading from a meter to be proved in such manner as may be prescribed and for a reading from a meter to be such evidence as may be prescribed of the volume of water supplied to, or of effluent discharged from, any premises;

(e) fix the method of determining the amount of the charges to be paid where it appears that a meter has given, or may have given, an incorrect reading;

(f) require a person who is not a relevant undertaker to pay the expenses incurred by such an undertaker in doing anything under the regulations or to pay contributions towards those expenses;

(g) provide for the payment of compensation in respect of anything done by a relevant undertaker under the regulations;

(h) require disputes arising under the regulations to be referred to arbitration.