Millions of households in the UK will see an increase in their water and sewerage bills starting from April 1. Wessex Water and Anglian Water will have the highest average bills at £548 and £529, respectively, while Northumbrian customers will see the lowest average bills of £422. The increase in bills is part of a plan by water companies to invest £14.4 billion in improving supply security and reducing sewage in rivers and seas. Despite the rise, Water UK claims that bills would have been £60 higher today if they had kept pace with inflation since 2014. The additional funds raised from higher bills will be used for building new reservoirs, repairing and replacing pipes, and supporting low-income households.
Water UK guarantees funds for improvements
The funds raised by increased water bills are guaranteed to be used solely for improving water and sewerage systems, according to Water UK. The regulator will automatically reduce bills if these improvements are not delivered. Water UK's chief executive, David Henderson, stated that the increased investment from water companies will ensure the security of the UK's water supply in the future and significantly reduce sewage in rivers and seas. He also emphasized that water companies will not cut anyone off or force them to use a prepayment meter.
Support available for those struggling with bills
Over two million households in the UK who are eligible for discounted social water tariffs are not claiming the savings provided, according to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW). Each water company in the UK has a social tariff scheme that can help reduce bills for low-income households. For example, customers of Thames Water may be eligible for a 50% discount if their household income is below a certain threshold. Thames Water has also provided grants to thousands of households for purchasing essential appliances. Additionally, many water companies offer other forms of assistance, such as debt relief programs and capping bills for water-intensive conditions.
Overall, it is important for customers to be aware of the support available to them and take advantage of it before the bill increase takes effect in April.
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