Thu, 30 Jan 2025

Water bills to rise by £123 a year in April

Figures reveal a jump for billpayers in England and Wales despite questions over firms' performance.

* Average annual water bill in England and Wales will rise from £480 to £603
* Total increase: £123 per household per year
* Breakdown by region: + Southern Water customers: 47% increase, £703 per year + Hafren Dyfrdwy and South West Water customers: 32% increase + Thames Water customers: 31% hike + Yorkshire Water customers: 29% rise + Bournemouth Water customers: 32% increase
* Bill rises are being front-loaded to fund investment in new infrastructure, such as reservoirs
* Over £4bn will be set aside for social tariffs (discounted bills for vulnerable people) over the next five years
* Consumer Council for Water warns that about 2.5 million households are already in debt to their water company and these rises will "heap considerable pressure" on them
* This is the largest rise in water bills since privatisation of the industry 36 years ago
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