Manx Utilities Authority
27 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 251.9%
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
| 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2025-02-13 | 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. | ||
| 2024-10-29 | 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. | ||
| 2024-09-04 | 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. | ||
| 2024-05-28 | projected costs of windfarm | Information not held |
| The requester asked for a full financial appraisal and environmental impact data for a proposed windfarm, but the Manx Utilities Authority responded that the information is not held because a manufacturer has not yet been appointed. | ||
| 2024-05-28 | windfarm effects on the airport | Information not held |
| The requester asked for details on revised airport procedures required if a windfarm proposal proceeds, but the Manx Utilities Authority stated they do not hold this information as they do not advise on aviation procedures. | ||
| 2024-05-20 | Licence for raw sewage discharge into Marine Nature Reserves | Information not held |
| The requester asked for DEFA Byelaw 14 permits for raw sewage discharge into Laxey Bay and West Coast Marine Nature Reserves from 2018 to 2024. The Manx Utilities Authority responded that the information is not held because discharges are regulated under the Water Pollution Act 1993, and Byelaw 20 exempts relevant authorities from the Marine Nature Reserve Byelaws. | ||
| 2024-05-07 | Wind speed tolerances | Information not held |
| The requester asked for specific wind speed tolerance data (cut-in, cut-out, survival speeds) for proposed turbines at Earystane & Scard, but the Manx Utilities Authority responded that the information is not held because no final decision on the turbine make or model has been made. | ||
| 2024-02-06 | MUA Landownings | Information not held |
| 2023-11-01 | Compensation payable at Earystane & Scard proposed windfarm site. | Information not held |
| 2023-09-18 | Provision of Ecology date re Feasibility and Environmental Survey | Information not held |
| 2023-09-14 | Data Set SODAR Device Week 1 | Information not held |
| 2023-09-11 | Work Permit Provision | Information not held |
| 2023-08-22 | Wind Farms | Information not held |
| 2023-07-27 | Wardell-Armstrong, initial environmental and technical survey | Information not held |
| 2023-07-20 | Environmental surveys to include all Flora and Fauna at Scard/Earystane | Information not held |
| 2021-08-30 | 5G Safety Diligence | Information not held |
| The requester asked for safety data and due diligence regarding 5G usage by Isle of Man government departments. The Manx Utilities Authority responded that they do not hold this information because 5G was not considered for their Smart Metering programme. | ||
| 2021-02-09 | Flood risk asset register | Information not held |
| The requester asked for a flood risk asset register and details on the classification of the MER weir structure as a historical asset. The Manx Utilities Authority responded that they do not hold this information as flood management records were transferred to the Department of Infrastructure in October 2020. | ||
| 2019-10-09 | project / implementation plan Laxey River | Information not held |
| The requester asked for a project implementation plan regarding the Laxey River following a 2016 report by Storm Geometrics. The Manx Utilities Authority responded that the information is not held, clarifying that the contractor only performed a topographical survey as part of a broader national strategy. | ||
| 2018-12-14 | Glenfaba House Building Survey | Information not held |
| A request was made for the detailed results of a building survey on Glenfaba House, but the Manx Utilities Authority responded that the information is not held as the survey report is still pending. | ||
| 2018-11-28 | volume of water for agriculture | Information not held |
| The requester asked for Manx Utilities' policy on monitoring agricultural water usage, the number of agricultural customers, and specific annual water volumes for dairy, beef, and arable farming since 2011. The authority responded that it does not hold this specific data because it does not categorize non-domestic customers by business sector and some are billed by rateable value rather than metered consumption. | ||
| 2018-02-08 | Design and Concept plans for proposed Peel Sewage Treatment Works | Information not held |
| A request was made for design concept plans for the proposed Peel Sewage Treatment Works at Glenfaba House, but the Manx Utilities Authority confirmed they do not hold this information as the project is in the early data collection phase. | ||
| 2017-09-01 | Spreadsheet costings for the rising mains | Information not held |
| A request was made for 25-year whole life spreadsheet costings for two specific rising mains in Peel. The Manx Utilities Authority responded that the information is not held because single cost estimates for the various pipeline options do not exist. | ||