Customer categorisation
Uisce Éireann has set out a clear difference between its Domestic, Non-Domestic and Mixed Use Customers.
The three customer types are defined as follows:
- Domestic Customer means a Customer in respect of a Dwelling.
- Mixed Use Customer means a Customer in respect of any part (or parts) or all of a Mixed Use Premises.
- Non-Domestic Customer means a Customer in respect of a Non-Domestic Premises.
How we define customer types
The following supplemental definitions give further context to the meaning of the 3 customer types as set out above:
- Dwelling means a Premises (or part(s) of a Premises) occupied by a person as his or her place of Private Residence (whether or not as his or her Principal Private Residence).
- Mixed Use Premises means a Premises encompassing a part (or parts) that is a Dwelling and a part (or parts) that is a Non-Domestic Premises which receives a Shared Supply of water and/or a Shared Collection of Wastewater (by way of example, and without limiting the scope of the foregoing, a supply serving a farmhouse occupied as a Dwelling and a farm; or, a Premises encompassing a shop and a flat occupied as a Dwelling).
- Non-Domestic Premises means any Premises (or part(s) of a Premises) that is not a Dwelling.
- Premises includes any building, vessel, vehicle, structure or land (whether or not there are structures on the land and whether or not the land is covered with water), and any plant or related accessories on or under such land, or any hereditament of tenure, together with any out-buildings and curtilage. The definition of a Premises includes any part (or parts) of a Premises and a Premises may encompass both a part (or parts) occupied as a place of Private Residence (i.e. a Dwelling) and a part (or parts) which is not occupied as a place of Private Residence (i.e. a Non-Domestic Premises).
- Private Residence means a Premises in which the Occupier(s) reside privately (i.e. with a general right to exclude others).
Charging non-domestic customers
The CRU's decision on the Non-Domestic Tariff Framework establishes a national suite of tariffs which will be applied consistently to Non-Domestic Customers, including Mixed Use Customers (in respect of the water supplied and discharged from the Non Domestic Premises). The Non-Domestic Tariff Framework does not apply to Domestic Customers.
Mixed use customers
Mixed Use Customers are charged the same tariffs for water and wastewater services as all other Non-Domestic Customers. Mixed Use Customers are charged in the normal way for the usage relating to the part of the Premises that is a Non-Domestic Premises. Metered Mixed Use Customers are entitled to a domestic allowance to account for the usage of the part of the Mixed Use Premises that is a Dwelling.
The CRU's decision on the Non-Domestic Tariff Framework provides that from the 1st October 2021 the domestic allowance is set at 213m³ per annum for a metered Mixed Use Premises where part of the Mixed Use Premises which is a Dwelling has zero to four occupants. From this date, only metered Mixed Use Customers will be entitled to a domestic allowance. Eligibility for a Domestic Allowance depends on the premise categorisation. Full details on categorisation can be found on the Uisce Éireann site. The application of a Domestic Allowance (and any additional allowances) will be determined in accordance with the Water Charges Plan.
Metered Mixed Use Customers may also apply for an additional domestic allowance amount of 25m³ for each additional occupant of the Dwelling above four.
Can I apply for an additional allowance?
- You must be a Mixed Use Customer and already be in receipt of a Domestic Allowance.
- The Mixed Use Premises must be metered.
- You must have an Annual Quantity which exceeds the 213,000 litres (213m³) equivalent to the value of the Domestic Allowance.
- There must be, at the very least, five or more persons ordinarily resident in the Dwelling that is part of the Mixed Use Premises.
How can I apply for a Domestic Allowance?
Mixed Use Customers requesting a Domestic Allowance can simply contact us below.
Domestic Allowances (Metered Mixed Use Customers)
A new national Domestic Allowance of 213,000 litres (213m³) per annum will apply as from 1st Oct 2021 as per CRU's decision on the Non-Domestic Tariff Framework. Eligibility for a Domestic Allowance depends on the premise categorisation. Full details on categorisation. The application of a Domestic Allowance (and any additional allownces) will be determined in accordance with the Water Charges Plan.
Extra allowance if five or more occupants
A metered Mixed Use Customer may apply for an extra 25,000 litres per annum (or 25m3) per additional occupant above four ordinarily resident in the Dwelling that is part of the Mixed Use Premises.
Can I apply for an extra allowance?
- You must be a Mixed Use Customer and already be in receipt of a Domestic Allowance.
- The Mixed Use Premises must be metered.
- You must have an Annual Quantity which exceeds the 213,000 litres (213m³) equivalent to the value of the Domestic Allowance.
- There must be, at the very least, five or more persons ordinally resident in the Dwelling that is part of the Mixed Use Premises.
How can I apply for an additional allowance?
Mixed Use Customers requesting an additional allowance amount, and meet the above criteria, can simply contact us below.
How does the customer categorisation apply to me?
In an effort to assist our customers the table below describes, by way of example and general guidance, how some common types of connections will be categorised using the updated customer definitions. A connection means the customer has a connection to the public network for water and/or wastewater services. It is appreciated that not all connections might easily fall within these generalised criteria and these examples are provided for information purposes only.
Should a customer wish to query the categorisation applied by Uisce Éireann then we will be happy to discuss the individual circumstances and the exact nature of the connection with the customer. It should also be noted that many of the 'connection types' and associated 'general customer categorisations' as set out in the table below do not vary from those that have been applied previously by Local Authorities. It should be noted (and as per the definitions set out above) that a Dwelling is a "place of private residence".
| Connection type | General Customer categorisation |
|---|---|
| Boarding school | Non-Domestic Customer |
| Camp site | Non-Domestic Customer |
| Caravan park - (short-term or long-term stay) | Non-Domestic Customer |
| Community of individuals residing in a premises provided by the community (convent, monastery etc) | Non-Domestic Customer |
| Farm with associated Dwelling | Mixed Use Customer |
| Holiday homes | Domestic Customer (if occupied as a Dwelling Otherwise Non-Domestic Customer) |
| Hospitals | Non-Domestic Customer |
| Hotel or hostel type accommodation (including with residents occupying single/multiple rooms on a long-term basis) | Non-Domestic Customer |
| 'Normal B&B' arrangement with the owner or occupier occupying part of the Premises as a Dwelling. | Mixed Use Customer |
| Nursing home | Non-Domestic Customer |
| Places of work with staff accommodation (e.g. army barracks) | Non-Domestic Customer |
| Premises with a Dwelling which also has a registered company address | Domestic Customer Otherwise Mixed Use (only if sufficiently distinct part of the Premises comprises a Non-Domestic Premises) |
| Prison accommodation | Non-Domestic Customer |
| Provision of childcare or crèche services in a Dwelling | Domestic Customer Otherwise Mixed Use Customer (only if a sufficiently distinct part of the property comprises separate Non-Domestic Premises) |
| Religious retreat centres | Non-Domestic Customer |
| Rent-a-room in a Dwelling | Domestic Customer |
| Sheltered accommodation | Non-Domestic Customer |
| Short term guest accommodation with persons occupying single/multiple rooms (or the whole of the Premises). | Mixed Use Customer (if part of the Premises includes a Dwelling) Or Non-Domestic Customer (if no part of the Premises is a Dwelling) (e.g. whole premises is available for short-term rental) Or Domestic Customer (if rented room within premises which is a Dwelling is not clearly distinct from rest of premises) |
| Student accommodation in shared halls of residence | Non-Domestic Customer |
Business Charges
The annual Domestic Allowance is 213,000 litres (213m³) as of 1st October 2021.
Check your bill. If you are in receipt of a Domestic Allowance this will be shown as a credit line item separate to your charges.
Eligibility for a Domestic Allowance depends on whether your premises is categorised as Mixed Use and whether your premises is metered - See Customer Categorisation for full details.
Yes, a Domestic Allowance only applies to metered Mixed Use Customers.
If your premise is categorised as mixed use and it is metered, please call our Business Team on 0818 778 778 / International +353 1 707 2827.
No, this new allowance of 213,000 litres (213m³) will automatically apply from 1st October 2021. However, if your premise has been re-categorised from Mixed Use to Non Domestic then you will no longer be eligible for a Domestic Allowance.