NI Water reduces cost to tax payer due to improved performance

An improved performance by Northern Ireland Water last year helped reduce its costs to the taxpayer, according to the company's annual accounts.

It received a £277m subsidy in the 12 months to March - £5m less than the previous year.

The money is paid instead of NI Water charging domestic customers. The NI Executive is against charging households on average £400 a year.

NI Water made efficiency savings of £7m in 2013.

These helped the company reduce bills to 80,000 business customers by 4% in the past two years.

In 2013/14, the government-owned company posted an improved accounting profit of £153m - up by 39%.

Some of this was obtained by assets like sewerage works being transferred to NI Water.

The company does not hold cash reserves.

NI Water said it has improved the level of service to customers, meeting the majority of performance targets set by the Utility Regulator.