IRISH WATER ARE looking at the possibility of metering apartments from next year.

The utility has confirmed that a pilot scheme is currently underway to look at how this could be introduced.

The current stage of metering expires at the end of 2016, and any possible changes to how water consumption is measured would take place after that.

The company has previously said that those living in apartments are at a disadvantage as their water use is not measured, making them unable to avail of any discount from underuse.

Decisions on how Irish Water customers are charged are made by the Commission for Energy Regulation, the independent economic regulator that oversees the service.

In September it was shown that 755,000 meters have been installed across Ireland by Irish Water.

In census data published in 2012 by the CSO found that there were 177,587 apartments occupied between 2006 and 2011 in Ireland.

Ervia has issued a public tender asking for submissions of technologies that would facilitate the installation of water meters into apartments. 

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