A12 - Local relevance of human rights: implementation, compliance and enforcement Income-related water tariff scheme in Dunkerque Patrick LAMBERT – Greater Dunkirk District

DUNKERQUE

Water supply Drinking water is collected 40 km away from Dunkirk

Water supply

SMAERD - Agency responsible for drinking water services in Dunkirk inhabitants, in charge of investments Lyonnaise des Eaux- private company delivering water under contract with SMAERD Water supply

French water policy -2006: The law on water and aquatic environments creates a right to water « chaque personne physique a pour son alimentation et son hygiène le droit d’accéder à l’eau potable dans des conditions économiquement acceptables à tous » : New law on solidarity mecanisms to help people paying their water bill : French president’s commitment during the election campaign : New water and energy tariff scheme : « Je ferai adopter une nouvelle tarification progressive de l’eau, de l’électricité et du gaz afin de garantir l’accès de tous à ces biens essentiels et d’inciter à une consommation responsable» -2013: A new law allows testing of new water tariff schemes by municipalities

Implementation at a local level 1 to 3% of households revenue for drinkable water Local authorities are committed to avoid water disruption: – Information to consumers, good practices to reduce water consumption – Study of individual situations with Lyonnaise des Eaux and social services, leading to payment schedules, social benefits or cancellation of debts

« Eco-solidaire » water tariff scheme in Dunkerque SMAERD/Lyonnaise des eaux since 01/10/2012: « eco »: incentive to reduce consumptions « solidaire »: lower tariff for low income households (indicator : households that receive the Couverture Maladie Universelle Complémentaire (CMU-C))  For people with a low income, supplementary insurance is available free of charge and is known as supplementary universal medical cover (CMU-C). Automatic process: no need for the households to ask for the lowest tariff

Income-related water tariff scheme in Dunkerque Biggest consumers (Eau confort) 2,04 €/m3 Tariff (€/m3) 75 m3 Basic water needs (Eau essentielle) Other households 0,83 €/m3 Households CMU-C 0,32 €/m3 Reduced water consumption (Eau utile) 1,53 €/m3 200 m3 Tariff until 01/10/2012 1,01 €/m3

-The observatory, a partnership information resource -Consumers’ organisations participate in the observatory and in the Commission consultative des services publics locaux (Commission that looks into the annual report of the distributor) Involvement of consumers

Another fight: energy for all Fuel poverty – Nord-pas-de-Calais Region : 16% of households ; 79% in detached houses Social benefits + financial aid for refurbishment work: Not enough to solve the problem Commitment of Greater Dunkirk District to cover refurbishment expenses for households in fuel poverty + individual support during 6 months  2013: test for 10 households