Manx Utilities Authority
33 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 206.1%
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 | 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2025-11-11 | 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. | ||
| 2025-08-26 | 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. | ||
| 2025-05-13 | 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2024-08-09 | 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. | ||
| 2024-07-24 | 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. | ||
| 2024-04-16 | Smart meters | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for detailed cost breakdowns, ongoing service fees, and liability information regarding the Isle of Man's smart meter programme. The authority partially disclosed information but redacted specific financial details and vendor costs citing commercial and economic interest exemptions. | ||
| 2023-09-13 | Delegated Powers | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-09-12 | Painting Lamp posts | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-08-14 | Further detail on rates bill- water and sewerage | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-07-31 | windfarms | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-07-24 | Bureau Veritas Study 2022 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-07-19 | Earystane & Scards, Sulby & Druidale | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-07-04 | Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-06-22 | Details of SCARD land lease and all access points | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-05-16 | The Island's drinking water capacity | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-04-11 | Purchase of Glen Garwick | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2022-05-20 | Communications with Manx Gas | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester sought all written communications between Manx Utilities and Manx Gas regarding debts and payments since March 31, 2022. Manx Utilities provided a summary of invoices and payments along with redacted email chains, withholding personal data such as signatures and phone numbers under data protection exemptions. | ||
| 2022-05-04 | Raggat | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for the cost of demolishing Glenfaba House at The Raggat and whether the site remained empty due to objections from Knockaloe Beg. The authority disclosed the demolition cost but refused to answer the second part, citing it as a rhetorical question and noting that the reasons were already available in public press coverage. | ||
| 2022-02-21 | Manx Gas | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought communications and meeting minutes between Manx Gas and Manx Utilities regarding price increases, gas purchasing, and outstanding debts from September 2021 to February 2022. The authority released some email correspondence highlighting disputes over meeting schedules and unpaid invoices, but the outcome was partially exempt. | ||
| 2021-06-14 | Athol Avenue Substation | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for a plan showing ownership of the St Georges Crescent Substation and risk assessments regarding antisocial fires. Manx Utilities provided a redacted 2004 lease plan but withheld risk assessments for non-MUA areas and personal signatures. | ||
| 2020-08-05 | JBA Post Incident review - Glen Road flooding October 2019 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for the JBA Post Incident review regarding the October 2019 flooding on Glen Road, Laxey, and the authority released the final report with some information exempt. The disclosed document details the causes of the flood, including debris blockage at the MER Weir and the subsequent collapse of a highway wall. | ||
| 2020-07-08 | Timeline of smart meter cost approval | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for a timeline of board and treasury approvals for smart meter costs and confirmation of Tynwald approval for an £18m spend. The authority declined to provide specific minutes, citing that the information is already reasonably accessible via Tynwald Hansard reports and the MUA website. | ||
| 2019-11-12 | Baldrine and Garwick Sites for sewerage | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for details on 8 specific Baldrine sites identified for sewerage treatment works to prevent raw discharge into Laxey Bay. The Manx Utilities Authority disclosed the requested site details as an attachment, noting that the full source report is already publicly available at the Tynwald Library. | ||
| 2019-09-11 | Written report from topographical survery completed on Laxey River | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester sought the written report and recommendations for a 2016 topographical survey of the Laxey River, which had been omitted from a previous request. The Manx Utilities Authority provided the survey report detailing flood risk management improvements, though the overall outcome was noted as partially exempt. | ||
| 2018-11-05 | Incident December 2017 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for the incident report, costs, and invoicing details regarding the accidental pumping of seawater into freshwater pipes in Douglas in December 2017. The authority provided the report with redactions for personal data and legal privilege, disclosed costs of £14,723.83, and confirmed the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company was invoiced. | ||
| 2018-02-19 | Peel Sewerage Treatment Works - Site Options | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for the full risk assessment, including plans and drawings, for the Peel Sewerage Treatment Works site options as discussed in a November 2017 committee hearing. Manx Utilities provided some information but withheld specific details regarding personal data, commercial interests, and public business conduct. | ||
| 2017-08-31 | Spreadsheet Costings knockaloe site and Anderson Land | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request for 25-year whole life cost spreadsheets for proposed sewage works at Knockaloe and Anderson Land was partially fulfilled, with specific budget estimates withheld due to commercial sensitivity and other data confirmed as not held. | ||