Annual Report & Accounts 2017/18

49 Strategic Report NI Water Annual Report and Accounts 2017/18 From 1 April 2018, non-domestic water and wastewater charges rose by 3.35% on average which was below the prevailing rate of inflation and less than the maximum allowed increase. The decision to limit the increase was, in part, due to the additional sustainable cost savings which NI Water has secured. In limiting the increase in this way, we have sought to strike a balance between our need to generate sufficient income to allow us to continue delivering our services andminimising impact on business customers. NI Water, like other businesses, has been impacted by rising electricity costs and other cost increases outside our control. Whilst the cost of providing water and sewerage services to our customers has risen, we have been able to absorb some of these andminimise the increase in our tariffs. We have worked closely with the Utility Regulator and with the Consumer Council to ensure that any increase remains as low as possible, and continues to represent good value for money. This rise, coupled with our decision to limit rises in the previous two years, means businesses will still be paying less, in real terms, for their water and wastewater services than they did at the start of the PC15 period. Watching the pennies 1. NI Water staff member with one of our business customers.