Section 144ZA: Rules about charges for connections etc, Water Industry Act 1991

The Authority may issue rules about charges that may be imposed by a relevant undertaker under—

section 42(2)(a) (provision of new water main);

section 45(6) (connections with water main);

section 46(7)(b) (ancillary works for domestic connection);

section 99(2)(a) or (2A)(a) (provision of public sewer or lateral drain);

section 101B(3) (lateral drains);

section 107(3)(b)(i) (communications with public sewers);

section 185(5) (moving of pipes etc).

Rules under this section may in particular—

make provision about the types of charges that may be imposed;

make provision about the amount or maximum amount, or the methods for determining the amount or maximum amount, of any type of charge;

make provision about the principles for determining what types of charges may or may not be imposed;

make provision about the principles for determining the amount of any charge that may be imposed;

provide for charges to be payable over a period;

make provision about publication of the charges that may be imposed.

The charges that may be imposed by a water undertaker under section 42(2)(a) for the provision of a new water main may include charges for—

providing such other infrastructure, including other water mains, as it is necessary to provide in consequence of the provision of the new water main;

doing works to increase the capacity of an existing water main, or procuring the doing of such works, where the use of that increased capacity is a consequence of the provision of the new water main.

The charges that may be imposed by a sewerage undertaker under section 99(2)(a) for the provision of a new public sewer may include charges for—

providing such other infrastructure, including other public sewers, as it is necessary to provide in consequence of the provision of the new public sewer;

doing works to increase the capacity of an existing public sewer, where the use of that increased capacity is a consequence of the provision of the new public sewer.

The rules may make provision as to—

the amount of security that may be required by a relevant undertaker under section 42(1)(b), 47(2)(a), 99(1)(b), 101B(3A), 107(3)(b)(ii) or 185(4);

the type of security that may be required;

the payment of interest on a sum deposited with a relevant undertaker by way of security.

If the Authority considers that a relevant undertaker is not acting as required by rules under this section, the Authority may give the undertaker a direction to do, or not to do, a thing specified in the direction.

It is the duty of a relevant undertaker to comply with a direction under subsection (6), and this duty is enforceable by the Authority under section 18.

The rules may make—

different provision for different persons or different descriptions of person;

different provision for different powers to impose charges or different descriptions of such powers.

The Authority may from time to time revise rules issued under this section and issue revised rules.

The Authority must issue revised rules if—

guidance is issued under section 144ZD, and

the Authority, having regard to that guidance, considers that it is appropriate to revise the rules.

Section 144ZA: Rules about charges for connections etc

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