“Over-ruling the regulator undermines independent regulation.”
Yesterday the BBC reported that the Northern Ireland Utility Regulator had “published its final determination on NI Water’s Price Control 2010-2013 (PC10), which identifies £91 million of revenue savings. The final determination also supports an investment programme of £564 million.” As the Regulator noted, “NI Water now has two months to accept the Utility Regulator’s final determination or refer it to the Competition Commission.” Except that by the end of the day UTV’s Jamie Delargy was reporting that the NI Regional Development Minister, Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy, was suggesting that the “final determination” wasn’t final. As Jamie Delargy says on his blog
He says the Executive will have to take into account economic conditions including job prospects before deciding what cash NI water will be allowed. He also says we have to be realistic about the levels of efficiencies the water company can achieve.That seems to be a broad nod and wink that he will not impose the ninety million pound efficiency cuts demanded by the regulator. But then what is the point of the regulator going to all that trouble to work out his numbers only to have them cast aside? Over-ruling the regulator undermines independent regulation.
Adds Here’s Jamie Delargy’s UTV Live report.
Video courtesy of UTV
NI Water also features in an imminent series of questions relating to an internal investigation into the awarding of contracts.
It could be that the Regulator has over stretched himself – again.
Sinn Fein like to pretend it is jobs for the boys, but we know it will be big bills for the rest of us.
“Audit Issues affecting NIW. Paul requested Doreen and Geoff to examine their respective areas to ensure they would satisfy
any scrutiny by audit authorities.”
http://applications.drdni.gov.uk/publications/document.asp?docid=17773
Getting the shredder out perhaps?
It’s happened before http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/public/2007mandate/reports/report1_07r.htm
“Destruction of Records
60. The poor records management system within Translink was further compounded in this case because a former senior member of staff was able to go into Translink’s offices at the weekend, remove substantial numbers of files and destroy them. The Department acknowledged that this was an enormous concern and inevitably led to suspicions about fraud.”
Audit authorities? I suppose it’s possible the Northern Ireland Audit Office could roll over one more time and acquiesce to an ‘independent’ internal investigation.
Perhaps they need to be reminded that material they’ve already put online ends up in Google cache!!
Added Jamie Delargy’s UTV Live report.