NI Water has announced new charges for the 2026/27 period for non-domestic customers. Effective from 1st April 2026, water and sewerage charges are set to increase by 7.9% on average. 

This announcement reflects NI Water's aim to invest in infrastructure while ensuring fair prices for customers.

NI Water Director of Finance, Regulation & Commercial, Ronan Larkin, commented:  

“When setting new tariffs, NI Water must strike a balance between generating sufficient income and minimising the impact on business customers. This year, given the continued significant cost challenges NI Water is facing, it is necessary to utilize the full price limit allowance. This decision was taken and approval for the tariff from the Independent Utility Regulator was secured. 

“While this rise is necessary due in particular to the escalating costs of power and operational demands, we recognise the impact any rise can have on customers. It is, therefore, important that customers who may need extra help with their bill to communicate with us as soon as possible. 

“The revenue from these bills is necessary for us to run the day to day operations, to support infrastructure investment and it brings benefits to the local economy and environment.” 

The NI Water billing team will be on hand to offer guidance to businesses who require assistance with their bill.

We have a self-service portal with a smart navigation which can be used when paying a bill, managing account(s), or viewing water consumption details online.

Leaflets will be mailed to non-domestic customers to notify them of the forthcoming pricing changes and how they will be applied.  

Further information about our charges will be available at www.niwater.com. 

Anyone with questions about their bill or our charges can phone our Billing Enquiries Team on 03458 770030.

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact NI Water Press Office press.office@niwater.com

Notes to editors

• Proposed tariff increases must comply with price limits set by the Northern Ireland Utility Regulator. These price limits limit the extent to which tariffs can be increased.
  
  
• Measured customer bills will rise by 7.2%, while unmeasured and trade effluent bills will rise by 8.8% and 9.8% respectively.
  
  
• Measured customers are charged for water and sewerage based on a meter reading. Unmeasured customers are charged based on the Net Annual Value (NAV) of their premises.
  
  
• While the value of a customer’s bill will vary depending on the amount of water used or the value (NAV), the following are typical examples of how customers may be impacted by these increases: 

Typical measured customer examples

- A medium size factory, connected to sewer, using 1,306M³ of water, will pay £5,232, a rise of £351 per year.

- Farmer using 400M³ of water, with septic tank, will pay £405, a rise of £25.

- A shop or small office unit, connected to sewer, using 285M³ of water, will pay £569, a rise of £38 per year.

Typical unmeasured customer examples

- Small to medium shop or office unit, with a NAV of £8,000, connected to sewer, will pay £455, a rise of £37.

• The price limits used by NI Water to set regulated prices exclude inflation. The Utility Regulator, responsible for determining price limits, uses Retail Price Index (RPI) as its main measure of inflation.
  
  
• The RPI measure of inflation used is based on November 2025 RPI which stood at 3.8%.
  
  
• NI Water is required to annually review the charges levied for water and sewerage services and agree them with the NI Utility Regulator in order that customers pay the fairest rate for the water and sewerage services they receive.
  
  
• The need to raise tariffs reflects the impact rising inflation and continued high power costs has had on the cost of providing water and sewerage services to customers.
  
  
• Due to the continuing deferment of domestic charges, eligible measured water and sewerage customers will continue to avail of a domestic allowance which will reduce their water and sewerage bill. As it is not possible to offer a volumetric domestic allowance to unmeasured customers, unmeasured water and sewerage charges will continue to be billed at one half of the full charge.
  
  
• Non-domestic customers include: small, medium and large businesses, farms, industrial users, voluntary organisations and charities, public bodies, churches and non-household use properties.