PEEL WATER NETWORKS LIMITED WHOLESALE SEWERAGE CHARGES SCHEME 2017/18

Transcription

1 PEEL WATER NETWORKS LIMITED WHOLESALE SEWERAGE CHARGES SCHEME 2017/18 Peel Water Networks Limited, Peel Dome, Intu Trafford Centre, TraffordCity Manchester. M17 8PL. Registered No:

2 Table of Contents Table of Contents... 2 A. Introduction Introduction Definitions Amount of Charges Value Added Tax... 5 B. General Liability for Charges Payment Terms Changes in Charges Security Deposits Interest on Outstanding Charges Billing Adjustments Charges For Copy Documents... 7 C. Sewerage Services Metered Charges Tariff Components Chargeable Area for Measured Non-Household Premises Return to Sewer Assumption Non Return Allowance Reductions in the Surface Water Drainage and Highway Drainage Parts of the Sewerage Charges Sewerage Select Tariff Assessed Charge Option Where Metering Impracticable D. Other Sewerage Supply Charges Site Visit Charge Repairs for Damage Vacant Site Administration Charge Charge for Surface Water Drainage Inspections E. Methods of Payment Direct Debit BACS/CHAPS By Post Failed Payments, Dishonoured Cheques and Rejected Direct Debits F. Schedule of Charges Measured Sewerage Charges Households Non-Households Assessed Charges Where Metering is Impracticable Surface Water Drainage and Highway Drainage Charges G. Miscellaneous Charges Site Visit Charge Vacant Site Administration Charge Charges for Surface Water Drainage Inspections Repairs for Damage Charge for Copy Documents Charges Resulting From Failed and Late Payments V.A.T Page 2 of 15

3 A. Introduction 1. Introduction 1.1 This charges scheme is made by Peel Water Networks Limited under section 143 of the Water Industry Act 1991, for the period 01 st April 2017 to 31st March It fixes the wholesale charges to be paid for sewerage services provided by the company in the course of carrying out its functions as a sewerage undertaker for our area named Media City UK. 1.2 In accordance with our duty under the Act, this charges scheme and the charges contained in it do not unduly discriminate against, or show undue preference, to any class of customers and does not exceed the price limit as set by Ofwat. 2. Definitions 2.1 The definitions used in this scheme are: The Act means The Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended). Agreement means a legally enforceable contract between us and you. It covers the water or sewerage services that we agree to provide to you, and the commercial terms on which those services are provided. Assessed Charge applies when a water meter cannot be installed or a schedule of sub-meters is used to derive the total consumption of a multioccupied premise. Change of Occupier means a change in the occupier of a premises or where charges are paid by the owner, a change in the ownership of the premises. Chargeable Area means in respect of surface water drainage and highway drainage, the total area of premises including the boundary and all land held within that boundary but excludes any permanently grassed, cultivated or landscaped areas where no surface water or groundwater drains either directly or indirectly to a public sewer. Charging s means a range of bands which we use to charge for surface water drainage and highway drainage services based on the chargeable area of premises. Charging Year means a year commencing on the 1st April. Common Water Meter means a water meter that serves two or more premises. The Company means Peel Water Networks Ltd registered number Connection means a connection to a network regulated by the Act and other relevant legislation through which you receive the benefit of one of our services. Customer means the end customer of the water and sewerage service. Domestic Sewage means the contents of toilets, water which has been used for cooking or washing, and surface water (cf. section 117 of the Act). Eligible Premises means premises other than household premises and which may be identified as eligible premises in light of any eligibility guidance. Page 3 of 15

4 Foul Drainage means water discharged from premises as domestic sewage excluding surface water. Furnished means containing furniture or sufficient fixtures and fittings to enable immediate use or used for storage purposes. Highways Drainage means water which drains from streets and roads into a public sewer. House means any building or part of a building (including a flat) occupied or likely to be occupied as a private dwelling. Household Premises means premises in any part of which a person has his home and whose principal use is a home and which may be identified as such in light of any eligibility guidance. Instrument of Appointment means the Instrument of Appointment of Peel Water Networks Ltd as a water and sewerage undertaker dated 13 th February Licensed Water Supplier means a company which is the holder for the time being of a water supply license (see section 17B(9) of the Act). Meter Reading means a reading from a water meter to determine consumption or in the absence of such reading our estimate of consumption. Meters Regulations means The Water (Meters) Regulations Non-Household Premises means any premises where the principal use is not a house or a dwelling. Occupier means in addition to any person in actual occupation of Premises, any person who: has sufficient control over Premises to put him under a duty of care towards lawful visitors; or maintains Premises used or intended for use as a dwelling; or maintains premises for occupation (including multiple occupation) with shared facilities or as holiday, student, hostel or other accommodation for short term occupation (whether let wholly or in part), usually less than 12 months; or develops or owns any new Premises that are empty or unfurnished. Premises mean any building or part of a building which is separately occupied or intended to be occupied and land or an interest in land. Public or Commercial Swimming Pool means a swimming pool maintained for or used by the general public with its own metered supply. Services mean any service provided by us related to foul drainage and surface water drainage. Sewerage Services means any services provided by us related to the provision or alteration of sewerage and the reception, conveyance and treatment of sewage including surface water drainage and highway drainage. Site means premises in the same curtilage or adjoining each other receiving the benefit of our services, occupied and operated as a single economic unit. Supply Point means the point at which sewerage services are provided in relation to any eligible premises. Surface Water Drainage means the collection of rainwater that falls on premises and then drains directly or otherwise to public sewers. Page 4 of 15

5 Water and Sewerage Undertaker means the Company appointed to carry out water and sewerage duties under the Water Industry Act Water Services Charges means a charge or any combination of charges for water supply services or sewerage services or both. We, us or our means Peel Water Networks Ltd registered number Wholesale Services means sewerage services that we provide to you. You, your means a water supply licensee, another wholesaler or any other recipient of our wholesale products and services. 3. Amount of Charges 3.1 The amount or value of each standard charge made under this scheme is detailed in section F and G. Where any service is not provided for in this scheme, the Company may fix an appropriate charge. 4. Value Added Tax 4.1 Charges in section F and G are stated exclusive of VAT; however, VAT will be chargeable in line with your agreement. Page 5 of 15

6 B. General 1. Liability for Charges 1.1 Sewerage Services are payable in respect of any Premises, which are physically connected or drained by a sewer or drain connecting, either directly or through an intermediate sewer or drain, with a public sewer provided for foul, surface water drainage and highway drainage; or where you have the benefit of facilities that drain to a public sewer (cf. section 144 (1) (b) of the Act). 1.2 Sewerage Services in respect of surface water drainage and highway drainage, will continue to be payable for Premises that are not occupied. Where the water supply to premises is permanently disconnected or the Premises are permanently vacant and unfurnished, no charges will apply 2. Payment Terms 2.1 All charges are payable in accordance with our agreement with you, where applicable. Failure to pay on time will result in recovery action and you may need to pay additional costs because of this. 3. Changes in Charges 3.1 Revisions in charges apply from 1 st April. 4. Security Deposits 4.1 The Company may, where appropriate, require security to be provided for payment of future charges. Interest will be payable on sums held on deposit at the rate determined by the Company. 5. Interest on Outstanding Charges 5.1 The Company may, where appropriate, require interest to be paid on overdue accounts. The amount will normally be calculated at the rate of 4% above the base rate set by the Royal Bank of Scotland plc. 6. Billing Adjustments 6.1 The Company makes every effort to ensure that all supply point data and associated charging is correct, in the case of error we reserve the right to make retrospective adjustments. 6.2 The Company will not make retrospective adjustments in our favour if there is clear evidence the undercharging has been due to a failure or error on our part. 6.3 The Company reserves the right to make retrospective adjustment where access is prevented or refused to install or exchange a meter, or incorrect information is provided or information is withheld that may affect charges.. Page 6 of 15

7 7. Charges For Copy Documents 7.1 The Company reserves the right to charge for copies of documents (including bills) previously issued. Charges for a single copy of the latest bill may be waived. Page 7 of 15

8 C. Sewerage Services 1. Metered Charges 1.1 Foul drainage charges at metered supply points will be based on the volume of water recorded by the water(s): 2. Tariff Components 2.1 Sewerage services charges for Non-Household Premises with a water meter comprise: a charge per cubic metre for foul drainage based upon the volume of water registered on the water meter; plus a charge for surface water drainage and highway drainage, based wholly upon a site area Charging related to the Chargeable Area of the Premises. 3. Chargeable Area for Measured Non-Household Premises 3.1 For charging purposes, Premises will be allocated a site area Charging based on their Chargeable Area, including the allocation of any common areas as described below. 3.2 Where there is a common area appertaining to a number of separately occupied Premises, the Chargeable Area for each such Premise shall be calculated to include a proportionate part of any such common area, by dividing any such area pro rata to the total individual site area measurement of each such separate Premises. Chargeable Areas appertaining to Premises individually assessed for business rate purposes may not be aggregated. 3.3 In the case of buildings in multiple occupation, common areas may include areas both internal and external to those buildings. The Chargeable Area for such Premises shall be calculated to include a proportionate part of any such common area by dividing any such area pro rata to the individual site area or charging value of each such separate Premises. 3.4 Shared car parks will normally be apportioned to separately occupied Premises on the above principles. However, the Company may also enter into an agreement with the site owner or freeholder, whereby he would be liable for the charges for the Chargeable Area of the car park. 3.5 The Company will only allocate a single Chargeable Area/Charging where a single business rating assessment is made available. Where a single business rating assessment covers more than one site we will determine an individual chargeable area for each site. 3.6 Should the owner or freeholder default on payment of such charges, then the Company will recover the charges from the customer of the separately occupied Premises as described above. 3.7 The Company reserves the right to recover from you any costs that it has reasonably incurred in cases where you dispute either: the Charging to which his Premises have been allocated; or asserts that your Premises do not drain any surface water or groundwater either directly or indirectly to a public Page 8 of 15

9 sewer and it is subsequently demonstrated that the Company s original assessment of the Premises was correct. 3.8 You must inform the Company of any change that may affect the Charging to which his Premises has been allocated. Any adjustment will be applied as indicated at part B6 above. The Company reserves the right to make retrospective adjustment in cases where you intentionally withhold or fails to provide information that may affect the Charging. 4. Return to Sewer Assumption 4.1 In setting the volumetric charge for foul sewerage, the Company assumes that on average five percent of the metered water supplied to you is not returned to the sewer. No adjustment is made to the billed volume because the five percent non-return is accounted for in the charge. 5. Non Return Allowance 5.1 Where more than 5 percent of the water supplied to Non-Household Premises is not returned to the sewer, you may claim an allowance against the total volumetric charge payable on the Company s prescribed form. The Company will assess any such allowance on the basis of the evidence available, and the allowance will be granted from the date of the claim. 5.2 You must inform the Company of any change that may affect the percentage of water returned to the sewer. Any adjustment to the charge will be given from the date you provide the information or the Company becomes aware of the change. 6. Reductions in the Surface Water Drainage and Highway Drainage Parts of the Sewerage Charges 6.1 A reduction can be claimed in the surface water drainage part of the sewerage charges in the following circumstances: (i) (ii) if none of the surface water from your Premises enters the public sewer network (other than as metered trade effluent), or in the case of Non-Household Premises, where the surface water from an area equivalent to 10% or more of the Chargeable Area does not drain to the public sewer network. 6.2 If the Company is satisfied that the claim is valid it will reduce or adjust the part of the sewerage charges, which relate to surface water drainage as follows: in case 6.1 (i) no charge will be made for surface water drainage; in case 6.2 (ii) the Company may allocate a different Charging reflecting the proportion of drained area. 6.3 The highway drainage charge is payable in respect of all Premises connected to the public sewer network. Highway drainage charges will not be reduced under the circumstances set out in 6.1. We will adjust the Chargeable Area for highway drainage to exclude any permanently grassed, cultivated or landscaped areas should you notify us of a change. Page 9 of 15

10 6.4 In respect of 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3, the reduction in charge is applied from the start of the Charging Year in which a successful claim is made. 6.5 Where a change to a surface water connection is made during a charging year the reduction will be applied from the date of the change. 7. Sewerage Select Tariff 7.1 If the foul drainage discharge from Premises is more than 50 megalitres (50,000 cubic metres) per annum, you will be eligible for our sewerage select tariff. 7.2 The Company will allow a change of tariff from the date of application and it will be reviewed annually 7.3 You shall become ineligible for the Company s select tariff if the Sewerage Services Charges are overdue for a period of 60 days starting from the due date stated on your account, unless you have a payment arrangement agreed with the Company, or there is a dispute on substantial grounds as to provision of the service to which the charge relates, or there is a failure on the part of the Company relating to charging or billing errors. In the case of such ineligibility, the standard measured sewerage tariff shall be applied to all consumption for the remainder of the measured supply Charging Year, from the date of ineligibility. 8. Assessed Charge Option Where Metering Impracticable 8.1 Where a meter cannot be installed the Company will invoice you based on an assessed charge. This will be either a fixed annual sum, varying according to the type of Premises below or a schedule of sub-meters will be used to derive the total consumption of a multi-occupied premise: Detached (includes houses, link detached and detached bungalows); Semi-detached (includes houses and semi-detached bungalows); Other Household Premises (includes flats and terraced houses); Single person household Non-Household Premises where the Company determines the meter size would be 15mm; Non-Household Premises where the Company determines the meter size would be >15mm but <22mm Page 10 of 15

11 D. Other Sewerage Supply Charges 1. Site Visit Charge 1.1 If you request a visit from us in relation to carrying out work and from that visit, we determine that no work is required by us, site visit charges will apply and will be based on an hourly rate. 2. Repairs for Damage 2.1 Charges will be made for repairs for damage to our assets including, where appropriate under section 174 of the Act, to whoever is responsible for damaging them. 3. Vacant Site Administration Charge 3.1 Where we believe the occupancy status of a Premises to be incorrect we will investigate and, where we successfully challenge the occupancy status, recover the costs of any investigation from you. 4. Charge for Surface Water Drainage Inspections 4.1 We will charge for surface water drainage inspections where the current site area Charging is proven to be correct. Page 11 of 15

12 E. Methods of Payment The Company will accept payment of its charges by any of the methods detailed below. All methods are free of charge at the point of payment unless otherwise stated. 1. Direct Debit 1.1 Arrangements to pay by direct debit can be made by phone by calling our billing enquiries number on or via post by completion and return of a direct debit mandate. The arrangement will continue from year to year, unless cancelled at any time by you in writing to your bank or building society. 2. BACS/CHAPS 2.1 Payment can be made via Banks Automated Clearing System (BACS) and Clearing House Automated Payments System (CHAPS). 3. Card Payments 3.1 Payment can be made with a debit or credit card. Go online at or by calling our billing enquiries number on Please have your card and account number ready. 4. By Post 4.1 Cheques should be made payable to Peel Water Networks Ltd, you re your reference number written on the back and sent to Peel Water Networks Ltd, Peel Dome, intu Trafford Centre, TraffordCity, Manchester, M17 8PL. Cash or post-dated cheques should not be sent. 5. Failed Payments, Dishonoured Cheques and Rejected Direct Debits 5.1 The Company reserves the right to recover bank charges and administrative costs resulting from invalid or dishonoured cheques and direct debits. Page 12 of 15

13 F. Schedule of Charges Measured Sewerage Charges 1.1 Households Volumetric charge per m³ 1.2 Non-Households Surface water drainage standing charge Highway drainage fixed charge Standard volumetric charge per m³ Swimming pool effluent per m³ Select sewerage charge per m³ Assessed Charges Where Metering is Impracticable 2.1 For Household Premises where metering is impractical, an assessed charge is available, comprising a fixed annual sum varying according to the type of Premises except where only one person lives at the premise as detailed below. Type of premises Sewerage Detached (including houses, link detached and detached bungalows) Semi-detached (includes houses and semi-detached bungalows) Other Household Premises (includes flats and terraced houses) Single person household tariff For Non-Household Premises where metering is impractical, an assessed charge is available, comprising a fixed annual sum varying according to the type of Premises detailed below. Type of premises Non-Household Premises where the Company determines the meter size would be 15mm Non-Household Premises where the Company determines the meter size would be >15mm but < 22mm Sewerage Page 13 of 15

14 3. Surface Water Drainage and Highway Drainage Charges Chargeable area Surface water drainage only charge p.a. Highway drainage only charge p.a. Surface water & highway drainage charge p.a ² ,499 1, , ,500 2,999 2, , , ,000-6,999 4, , , ,000-11,999 9, , , ,000-17,999 15, , , ,000-24,999 21, , , ,000-49,999 37, , , ,000-74,999 63, , , ,000-99,999 88, , , , , , , , , , , , ,999 > 150, , , , Page 14 of 15

15 G. Miscellaneous Charges 1.1 Site Visit Charge Site visit charges Vacant Site Administration Charge Vacant site administration charge Charges for Surface Water Drainage Inspections Non-household with a site area charging band 1-5 full connection claim where the current charge is proven to be correct Non-household with a site area charging band 6 and above full connection claim where the current charge is proven to be correct Non-household partial connection claims for measured premises where the current charge is proven to be correct Site area charging band changes including changes to surface types where the current charge is proven to be correct Repairs for Damage Repairs to sewers and apparatus Recovery of all direct and indirect costs 1.5 Charge for Copy Documents Requests for up to 10 copy documents 39 for hardcopy 38 for softcopy Charges for a single copy of the latest bill will be waived. 1.6 Charges Resulting From Failed and Late Payments Refer to drawer cheques Unpaid direct debit / standing order Late payment charge V.A.T per cheque 5.00 per item All charges shown are exclusive of V.A.T, however, VAT will be chargeable in line with your agreement. Page 15 of 15