Northern Ireland Executive ministers are considering whether they should abandon plans for the introduction of water charges.
The report of the Independent Water Review Panel published today said households should not have to pay any additional charges for water until April 2009. The executive had already put them back a year to 2008 while the issue was re-examined.
The proposals would save householders almost £300 million over the next two years, it said.
The panel debunked former Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain that people in Northern Ireland were getting their water for nothing.
There appeared to have been "a lack of openness and transparency" in the reform process under direct rule which had damaged public confidence, the report said.
In fact, said the panel, the public were already paying a total of £109 million towards the costs of water and sewerage services each year as part of their rates bill.