Irish Water says it won't comment on reports that a 33 per cent standing charge is being proposed for customers.
The company's issued a statement confirming they've made a submission to the Commission for Energy Regulation on 'tariff structures', and that'll be part of the public consultation process that's due to get underway shortly.
The Social Protection Minister says the Government hasn't discussed the level of standing charges at Irish Water.
It follows reports that the agency has submitted plans for a 33 per cent charge on the average bill to the energy regulator.
In a statement the body says it won't comment on the reports – but that it has made a submission to the Commission for Energy Regulation on 'tariff structures'.
Joan Burton says the Government hasn't discussed the plans – she says it's important that the water charge is fair.
Average annual bills are expected to come in at around 3 hundred euro, so if a 33 per cent charge were to get the go ahead, consumers would be facing a 100 euro bill before turning on the tap.
Group Political Editor with the Irish Independent Fionnan Sheahan says the standing charge could be very useful to the company when it's up and running:
