Manx Utilities Authority
181 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 37.6%
The Freedom of Information requests reveal a Manx Utilities Authority (MUA) that is increasingly transparent about high-level environmental and financial risks, yet remains guarded regarding granular operational data and commercial negotiations. Major disclosures have exposed significant environmental liabilities, including the admission that no sewage facilities utilize UV disinfection (Case 2373846) and the calculation of £11.57 million in annual health costs from power station emissions (Case 3951913). The authority has also been candid about operational failures, such as the seawater contamination incident in Douglas (Case 646165) and the lack of data on raw sewage volumes due to telemetry issues (Case 3919250). However, a recurring pattern of obstruction emerges in requests concerning major infrastructure projects like the Peel Sewage Treatment Works and the Cairn Vie windfarm. In these instances, MUA frequently cites 'commercial sensitivity' or claims data is 'not held' to withhold specific cost breakdowns, design plans, and contractor details (Cases 355725, 3843909, 4226913), often directing requesters to public reports that lack the requested specificity.
Key Cases
Case 3951913 — Reveals a staggering estimated annual cost of £11.57 million for non-GHG emissions from power stations, linking utility operations directly to significant public health and social housing impacts, a figure previously unknown to the public.
Case 2373846 — Discloses that zero sewage facilities in the Isle of Man have operational UV disinfection and that approximately 20 combined sewage overflows discharge directly into rivers, raising critical questions about water safety and infrastructure standards.
Case 3843909 — Exposes a significant cost escalation in the windfarm project from £23.5m to £36m, attributed to design changes and contingency margins, highlighting financial volatility in major renewable energy investments.
Case 646165 — Documents a major operational failure where seawater was accidentally pumped into Douglas freshwater pipes, with the authority admitting to costs of £14,723.83 and invoicing the Steam Packet Company, illustrating systemic risks in water management.
Case 2116457 — Uncovers that 27 staff members receive free private health treatment under legacy contracts, sparking a debate on the fairness of public sector benefits and the transparency of 'exemplary' employment costs.
Related FOI Stories
Peel Sewage Treatment Works & Infrastructure Costing — #355725, #355437, #355729, #355733, #355735
Wind Energy Projects: Cairn Vie & Earystane — #3843609, #3843909, #3887629, #3887729, #3939933
Environmental Discharges & Water Quality — #554134, #646165, #902593, #1028829, #1044361
Staff Benefits, Salaries & Employment — #466533, #2116458, #2116457, #2136578, #2143337
Energy Costs, Interconnectors & Smart Meters — #849965, #931113, #1358041, #2295341, #2346933
All (181)
All information sent (68) ·
Some information sent but part exempt (33) ·
Some information sent but not all held (32) ·
Information not held (27) ·
Not upheld (6) ·
No information sent - all held but exempt (6) ·
Not required to fulfill request (4) ·
Decision Notice - Complaint not upheld (2) ·
Vexatious request (1) ·
Upheld - partial (1) ·
Repeated request (1) ·
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-27 | cost of supplying electricity under different scenarios | Information not held |
| The requester asked for fully costed assessments comparing electricity supply scenarios (maximizing imports vs. on-island generation) and carbon emissions calculations from the last 10 years. The Manx Utilities Authority responded that they do not hold or could not find the requested information after taking reasonable steps. | ||
| 2026-02-25 | Number of private swimming pools individually rated. | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Manx Utilities Authority for statistics on privately rated swimming pools categorized by location and size. The authority responded that it does not hold this information, as it is collated by the Government Treasury for rates purposes. | ||
| 2026-02-19 | Work carried out on a property | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2026-02-17 | Repair Exhaust Stack Peel Power Station - Storm Eowyn | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A Freedom of Information request was made to the Manx Utilities Authority regarding procurement details for repairing the Peel Power Station exhaust stack damaged by Storm Eowyn. The authority responded with a partial disclosure, providing an Expression of Interest document for mechanical services while redacting specific contract values, tender responses, and exemption justifications. | ||
| 2026-02-03 | The cost to produce 1 unit of electricity (1 KW) vs 2021 | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the average cost to produce one unit of electricity for 2020 and the most recent year, including a breakdown by generation method. The authority provided links to annual reports for calculating average costs but stated they do not hold full cost-per-kWh data by generation method, offering marginal cost figures instead. | ||
| 2025-12-23 | Risk of asbestos in wind turbine procurement, and risk assessment | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made to the Manx Utilities Authority for details on wind turbine procurement activities and asbestos risk assessments since September 2023. The Authority responded on 21 January 2026 stating that some information was sent, but not all requested data was held. | ||
| 2025-12-23 | Water pressure management and fire suppression island-wide | Repeated request |
| The requester sought information on water pressure management policies, fire safety impacts, and mitigation schemes from the Manx Utilities Authority. The response provided an overview of the Authority's leakage and pressure management operations, network statistics, and recent infrastructure projects, though the full document appears truncated. | ||
| 2025-12-17 | West Baldwin Reservoir catchment area | All information sent |
| The requester asked for an accurate map of the West Baldwin Reservoir catchment area, noting that the online MANNGIS map incorrectly omitted water pumped from East Baldwin. The Manx Utilities Authority responded by explaining the distinction between direct and indirect catchments and provided a map of the East Baldwin Valley as an indirect catchment. | ||
| 2025-12-17 | Mains water system, pressure reducing valves | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought total procurement, installation, and maintenance costs for pressure reducing valves installed since 2018, along with the analysis justifying their use over pipe replacement. The authority disclosed aggregate procurement costs, unit counts, and estimated installation figures, but withheld specific unit prices citing commercial sensitivity. | ||
| 2025-11-25 | Verification of Occupancy- Ballafesson 'Glamping' | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for Manx Utilities' standard occupancy verification procedures and specific documentation regarding the Reayrt Vradda glamping site following a liquidation. The authority disclosed its general application requirements but withheld specific details about the site's internal handling and documentation, citing partial exemptions. | ||
| 2025-11-18 | How many fish died as a result of draining clypse reservoir? | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought information on fish mortality and replacement costs due to the draining of Clypse Reservoir. The authority disclosed a risk assessment detailing mitigation strategies to relocate fish rather than kill them, but did not provide specific mortality counts or financial costs. | ||
| 2025-11-11 | Renewable energy recruitment, overseas employment & relocation package | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for detailed staffing, recruitment, and relocation cost data regarding Manx Utilities' renewable energy projects. The authority responded with a partial disclosure, providing only the beginning of the staffing overview before the text cuts off, while the outcome indicates some information was withheld. | ||
| 2025-10-24 | Dumping of sediment on heathland at Cross Vein Mine | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the specific location of heathland maps on the Isle of Man Government website after finding Manx Utilities' general reference unhelpful. The authority responded that the information was already reasonably accessible and provided direct links and instructions to view the maps, citing Section 20 of the Act. | ||
| 2025-10-15 | Reayrt Vradda Ltd | All information sent |
| The requester asked about Manx Utilities' creditor status and supply policies regarding the liquidation of Reayrt Vradda Ltd. The authority confirmed they are not yet listed as a creditor but continue to supply services pending formal liquidation documentation, while directing the requester to a public website for disconnection policies. | ||
| 2025-09-09 | Details of MUA attendance at Earthscope | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought details regarding Manx Utilities Authority's attendance at Earthscope sustainability training, including costs, staff levels, and correspondence. The authority disclosed the purpose, cost, and attendance patterns but withheld correspondence due to the request being too broad and lacking necessary clarification. | ||
| 2025-08-26 | Retainers | All information sent |
| The requester asked for policies and details regarding retainer payments for wind farm projects since 2018, but the Manx Utilities Authority disclosed that no such retainer payments have been made or arranged. | ||
| 2025-08-26 | Tenancy | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought details of all new tenancy agreements and leases entered into by the Manx Utilities Authority since January 2018. The Authority disclosed a list of 37 agreements including dates, locations, types, and parties, though specific names of private individuals were redacted. | ||
| 2025-07-23 | CCGT | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the estimated fuel cost per MWh for the Pulrose power station in both combined-cycle and open-cycle modes. The Manx Utilities Authority responded by providing broad brush estimates based on assumed thermal efficiencies and gas transport costs, noting that actual costs vary with load and volatile gas prices. | ||
| 2025-07-02 | PFAs, new EU limit and blood test results | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought information on PFAS water assessments, EU limit compliance strategies, and blood test data from the Manx Utilities Authority. The authority responded with a partial disclosure, providing a detailed Certificate of Analysis for drinking water samples from Douglas WTW but did not supply the requested strategic or demographic information. | ||
| 2025-06-24 | Onshore wind | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought contracts, meeting minutes, and landowner exclusion records regarding onshore wind site selection by Wardell Armstrong. Manx Utilities disclosed the approved scope of work but confirmed it does not hold minutes or specific documents on landowner invitations, citing Section 11(3)(a) of the Act. | ||
| 2025-05-13 | Board papers - regarding Energy Transition | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for Manx Utilities Authority board papers regarding energy transition and renewable energy proposals from 2019 to the present. The authority released some documents and website reports but redacted specific details concerning costs, timelines, and procurement strategies under commercial interest exemptions. | ||
| 2025-04-22 | Cair Vie Resistance & ExoTechnologies | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought information regarding an offer from ExoTechnologies to provide 'DANU' recyclable composite material for Isle of Man wind turbines. The authority disclosed correspondence showing the offer was made in March 2023 but redirected to formal procurement processes, with some information withheld. | ||
| 2025-04-16 | Payments to contractors for tree felling around power lines | All information sent |
| 2025-04-15 | Ecological surveys of onshore wind farm site | Not required to fulfill request |
| The requester asked for a dated list of ecological surveys and DEFA licences for the Earystane and Scard wind farm sites. The Manx Utilities Authority responded that they do not hold this specific information as surveys are conducted by a third party, Wardell-Armstrong, who holds the necessary personal licences. | ||
| 2025-04-15 | Tanker hire | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the total cost of hiring two Bridmin tankers over approximately four years. The Manx Utilities Authority disclosed that the tankers were hired since 2017 and provided the total expenditure for the period up to March 2025. | ||
| 2025-04-02 | Cair vie windfarm proposal - Costs to date | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request for a detailed cost breakdown of the Cair Vie windfarm proposal was partially fulfilled by Manx Utilities Authority, which disclosed specific consultancy and supplier costs but withheld project management and travel expenses due to lack of specific data or public availability. | ||
| 2025-04-02 | Cair vie windfarm staffing | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for staffing numbers, officer time estimates, and involved departments for the Cairn Vie windfarm project. Manx Utilities disclosed that one full-time staff member is allocated to the project and listed the involved departments, but stated they do not hold records of total officer time spent. | ||
| 2025-02-13 | Equality impact assessment | Not required to fulfill request |
| The requester asked for statistics on equality impact assessments conducted by Manx Utilities since the Equality Act 2017, but the authority refused the request because it would require creating new information or conducting analysis not mandated by the Freedom of Information Act 2015. | ||
| 2025-02-13 | On the 7th December 2025 the storm brought trees down on Surby road. | Information not held |
| A request was made for the specific repair costs of overhead power cables damaged by storm-felled trees on Surby Road in December 2025. The Manx Utilities Authority responded that the information is not held because emergency costs are booked to a generic daywork number rather than specific fault records. | ||
| 2024-12-31 | Settlement Agreements | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for a detailed breakdown of Settlement Agreements issued by Manx Utilities Authority since September 2021, including reasons, compensation figures, and a blank template. The authority disclosed the total number of agreements and aggregate costs by category but withheld individual details due to personal data exemptions and confirmed no standard template is held. | ||
| 2024-12-17 | Electric Vehicle charging pods | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request for detailed data on Isle of Man electric vehicle charging pods, including installation costs, usage statistics, and lifespan justifications, was partially fulfilled by the Manx Utilities Authority. The authority disclosed total pod counts, installation costs, and annual revenue figures but withheld specific usage data and lifespan documentation citing lack of access to third-party databases and absence of held records. | ||
| 2024-12-10 | Insurance or indemnity for customer non-payments and other | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked if Manx Utilities holds insurance to recover unpaid customer debts and for details on other insurance coverage. The authority confirmed it does not hold insurance for customer non-payments, preferring debt management and legal action, but disclosed a list of other broad insurance policies covering property, liability, and infrastructure risks. | ||
| 2024-10-29 | Wind farms Cost versus Benefit Analysis | Information not held |
| The requester asked for a cost-benefit analysis comparing the Orsted Offshore Windfarm and the Cairns Vie Onshore Windfarm. Manx Utilities Authority responded that no such analysis exists and they have not received any commercial offers from offshore windfarm developers. | ||
| 2024-10-29 | Engineering, procurement and construction contractor onshore windfarm | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Manx Utilities Authority for details regarding the appointment of an EPC contractor for the Earystane & Scard onshore wind project. The authority responded that the information is not held because no procurement exercise has been undertaken yet, as the project remains in the design and micro-siting phase. | ||
| 2024-10-10 | Selling solar back to the grid | Information not held |
| The requester asked if Manx Utilities Authority had conducted a study justifying its failure to buy back solar energy from domestic users under the Electricity Act. The Authority responded that it does not hold such a study, citing network constraints as the reason for limited solar export. | ||
| 2024-09-17 | Electric Vehicle Fleet | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for detailed acquisition and usage data for the Manx Utilities Authority's electric vehicle fleet. The authority disclosed that it owns 20 electric vehicles and provided purchase dates and charging types, but withheld specific costs citing commercial confidentiality, offering price ranges instead. | ||
| 2024-09-10 | Renewable Energy Certificate of Origin | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought the quantity and cost of Renewable Energy Certificates of Origin purchased by Manx Utilities Authority between 2018 and 2024. The authority disclosed certificate counts and copies for 2020-2023, stating no certificates were required for 2018-2020, but withheld specific purchase costs citing that the information is already reasonably accessible via their website. | ||
| 2024-09-10 | New Interconnector and energy cost | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought the budgeted cost and capacity of a new interconnector and the per MWh generation costs for specific Isle of Man power sites. The authority disclosed the interconnector's estimated cost and capacity range, and provided generation costs for CCGT, Energy from Waste, and Diesel, but could not separate costs for individual Diesel stations or provide Hydro data. | ||
| 2024-09-05 | Request relating to the trade of energy via the interconnector | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Manx Utilities Authority for annual data on energy exports and imports via the interconnector for the years 2018/19 through 2023/24. The authority responded by providing all requested information, including export quantities, unit costs, import percentages, and total import costs, while also adding data for 2020/21 for completeness. | ||
| 2024-09-05 | Cost of green and non-green energy | All information sent |
| The requester asked Manx Utilities Authority for annual quantities and unit costs of green versus non-green electricity imported via the interconnector for the years 2018/19 through 2023/24. The authority responded by providing all requested information in a table, noting that figures for 2020/21 were also included for completeness. | ||
| 2024-09-04 | Strike price | Information not held |
| The requester asked for a spreadsheet of strike prices per MWh for the Pulrose CCGT power station over the last three years, but the Manx Utilities Authority stated it does not hold this specific information. The authority offered alternative data regarding the 'marginal cost of generation' (fuel cost) instead. | ||
| 2024-08-09 | Breakdown of electricity price to customer | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for a breakdown of electricity costs, specifically the percentage attributed to loan interest and monthly repayment figures. The authority disclosed that specific percentage calculations are not held but directed the requester to public financial reports for interest data, citing that some information is already reasonably accessible. | ||
| 2024-08-06 | Climate change report | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request for the Manx Utilities Authority's 2023/2024 climate change report was refused because the document is held with a view to future publication. The authority determined that releasing draft or incomplete versions would be misleading, outweighing the public interest in immediate disclosure. | ||
| 2024-08-05 | Residential visual amenity assessment and noise sensitive receptors | Not required to fulfill request |
| The requester asked for a Residential Amenity Assessment and related correspondence regarding the Earystane & Scard proposed windfarm. The Manx Utilities Authority refused to fulfill the request because the applicant failed to provide necessary clarification on the specific documents and guidelines sought. | ||
| 2024-07-25 | Use of King Edward and Princess Victoria Piers | Not upheld |
| The request sought correspondence regarding the use of Douglas piers for onshore windfarm component delivery, but the appeal was not upheld. The disclosed documents contain preliminary transport updates and meeting notes indicating Victoria Pier can handle specific abnormal loads for wind turbine parts. | ||
| 2024-07-24 | Project costs Windfarm | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for the total project costs of the windfarm including consultants, and the authority disclosed a specific cost figure while exempting staffing and internal sundry items as they are already reasonably accessible or not included in the specific request scope. | ||
| 2024-07-15 | Consumption of electricity at the National Sports Centre | All information sent |
| The request sought electricity consumption data and costs for the National Sports Centre between April 2023 and March 2024, broken down by site. The authority confirmed the tariffs used for each site and clarified that waste heat units are unmetered, though the specific consumption figures were referenced as provided below in the original document. | ||
| 2024-07-08 | Generation and Expenditure (Electricity) | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought data on electricity generation sources, financial expenditure versus income, and costs related to Climate Change Act consultations. The authority provided generation breakdowns and fuel costs, directed the requester to public financial statements for income figures, and stated that no specific consultation costs exist as no directions were issued under the cited Act. | ||
| 2024-07-08 | Interconnector and Standing Charge (Electricity) | All information sent |
| The request sought details on electricity costs from the interconnector, green energy certification, other generation tariffs, and standing charge calculations. The authority disclosed the average interconnector cost, confirmed green energy is more expensive and certified via Renewable Energy Certificates, provided specific tariff rates for sustainable generation, and explained the standing charge is not cost-reflective. | ||
| 2024-07-08 | Electricity Costs - Loan interest payments and Maintenance | All information sent |
| The request sought details on loan interest contributions to electricity charges and the specific costs of maintaining distribution infrastructure. The authority disclosed the total loan interest amount and provided a breakdown of maintenance, staff, and other costs, noting that detailed financial statements are publicly available. | ||
Page 1 of 4 Next »