Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this topic. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ciarán Cannon.

I appreciate that further legislation relating to Uisce Éireann is on its way down the tracks. The specific problem I am raising relates to Bord Gáis Energy's search for water meter operators which is going through the eTenders process. A number of people have raised the issue with me. According to the tender notice, Bord Gáis Energy is looking to install meters that will be capable of being read by hand-held electronic devices, without stop valves, etc., having to be opened. The meter readers will not have to physically examine each meter; they will be able to read it electronically.

While I do not like to be parochial, the best figures I have with regard to this problem are for my local area. Approximately 55,000 of the approximately 70,000 houses in County Kildare are connected to the public water mains. Between 4,000 and 6,000 houses in the county that were built after 2004, when the installation of water meters was first required as part of planning conditions, have water meters in place. A number of the householders in question have contacted me to express concern that their water meters might not be compatible with what Bord Gáis Energy is seeking as part of the eTenders process. Some meters have been installed since before 2004. Some of them may be at the wrong depth, while others may be of the wrong type to be read in this way. Some of the old-style manual meters which are fairly large and have to be read physically are still in use.

As we know, people will be charged for the installation of meters through their water bills. Those who already have water meters are worried that they will be charged for their removal if they are deemed to be incompatible with what Bord Gáis Energy is looking for in the eTenders document, in addition to being charged for the installation of a new meter. Some of them paid for meter installation as part of the purchase of their houses, while others paid for it when they installed their own meters. I would like the Minister of State to give the House a commitment that Bord Gáis Energy will not charge people who have existing water meters in place if these meters need to be replaced to make them compatible with what is being required of the operators in using water reading systems. They should not be charged for the installation of new meters.

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