The National Water Commission (NWC) is seeking a 40 per cent increase in rates. The utility company, which supplies water to approximately 85 per cent of all households on the island, recently submitted its application to the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) for a tariff review.

The NWC's last review was conducted in 2003, at which time it had requested just under a 50 per cent increase in rates. It was granted a 26 per cent increase by the OUR, which became effective on January 1, 2004, with a three-year interim ending December 31, 2006.

Requesting an extension

The utility company, however, wrote to the OUR earlier this year requesting an extension of the 2004/2006 tariff, which was granted until the end of this year.

According to a press release from the OUR, the office is set to organise several public consultations across the country in an effort to secure consumer participation in the regulatory process and decision making.

"These consultations are designed to allow NWC to explain to the public the need for a revision of the rates and to enable the OUR to hear questions, comments and feed-back from consumers," said the regulatory body.