Bord Gáis is seeking suppliers for the water meters that will be installed in more than one million homes in the Republic from next year, ahead of plans to begin charging for supplies from 2014.
The State’s new water utility will begin charging households for water from midway through the year after next, and Bord Gáis, which has been charged with establishing the company, plans to begin work on the project in July 2013.
In a step closer to making domestic water charges a reality, the company has published formal notices seeking expressions of interest from businesses interested in supplying the meters.
The meters are likely to cost between €40 million and €50 million, although the contracts involved will determine the price that is paid.
Bord Gáis is likely to take on more than one supplier. It is hoping to complete the supply contracts in March and work on the installation will begin next July and end in December 2016.
At the same time, the company is also seeking a minimum of three management companies to manage local subcontractors who will work on installing the meters and associated equipment.
Bord Gáis and the department published their notices on the Government’s etenders website, which is used to advertise public supply and service contracts.
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