Water bills in England and Wales are set to increase by over 25% next year, adding an average of £123 to the annual bill. This significant hike, the largest in three decades, has been met with criticism from campaigners, who argue that it is unfair given that water suppliers have paid out billions to shareholders while polluting rivers. The price increase, confirmed by the industry body Water UK, will take the average water and wastewater bill from £480 to £603 for the coming year alone. Millions of households will face even steeper increases.
Water bills in England and Wales are set to increase by over 25% next year, adding an average of £123 to the annual bill. This significant hike, the largest in three decades, has been met with criticism from campaigners who argue that it constitutes 'daylight robbery' given that water suppliers have paid out billions to shareholders while simultaneously polluting rivers.
The price increase, confirmed by the industry body Water UK, will raise the average water and wastewater bill from £480 to £603 for the coming year alone. However, millions of households will face even steeper increases. Southern Water customers will be hit with a 47% surge, while bills at Hafren Dyfrdwy, South West Water, Bournemouth Water, Thames Water, and Yorkshire Water will rise by 32%, 31%, and 29% respectively. Householders with Southern Water will see their bill climb to £703. These increases, which exceed those announced by Ofwat just before Christmas, incorporate inflation. Water UK stated that firms will invest approximately £20 billion from April 2025 to March 2026, the highest ever expenditure in a single year, kickstarting a five-year investment program worth £104 billion up to 2030. This investment aims to construct nine new reservoirs and nine water transfer schemes, upgrade the capacity of 1,700 wastewater treatment works to mitigate pollution and enhance the protection of over 15,000 kilometers of rivers across England and Wales. Additionally, firms will support more than three million households with their bills through a £4.1 billion package over the next five years. Water UK asserts that following these increases, water bills are now only about 5% higher than in 2010 in real terms. Despite acknowledging the difficulty these increases pose for many, Water UK CEO David Henderson emphasized the urgent need for investment in water and sewage infrastructure. Consumer Council for Water CEO Mike Keil expressed concerns about the impact on struggling households, highlighting the need for water companies to demonstrate more ambition in providing financial support
WATER BILLS PRICE HIKES INVESTMENT POLLUTION CONSUMER COUNCIL FOR WATER OFWAT
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