Water firms in England and Wales have reportedly declared they want to increase bills by between 24 per cent and 91 per cent over the next five years, according to a consumer watchdog.
Southern Water is asking for the biggest increase of 91 per cent, which would mean its customers would see a rise in their bills to £915, according to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW).
South Staffordshire and Cambridge Water are requesting the lowest rise of 24 per cent – which equates to a £221 rise in their bills.
Firms have defended their request by saying higher bills will fund £100 billion of spending over the next five years.
They claim the cash will fund replacing ageing, leaking pipes as well as stemming sewage discharges into rivers and seas.
The firms’ request comes ahead of a meeting by water industry regulator Ofwat this week where it will set out what companies can charge their customers from next year up to 2030.
Is is understood the regulator is expected to agree bill rises of at least half the amount that the companies have requested.
In some cases it is believed that Ofwat will request rises of more than half that has been requested.
Mike Keil, chief executive of the CCW, said bill rises were “going to come as a massive surprise to people”.
“People do want to see improvements, they do understand that takes investment, but I think the scale of what’s being proposed here is going to come as a real shock and this is why water companies have double down on their efforts to explain what people are getting for their money.”
Increases which have been proposed include forecasted inflation rate of 2%
The data takes in changes from the companies, Ofwat and other bodies since their five year plans for the period 2025-2030 were submitted in October.
The proposed increases include a forecasted inflation rate of 2%, which is in line with the Bank of England’s target.
There is a very wide range of proposed bil
How much do companies want to hike bills by?
- Southern Water: an increase of 91% to £915
- Thames Water: an increase of 59% to £749
- Hafren Dyfredwy: an increase of 56% to £676
- Severn Trent: an increase of 50% to £657
- Wessex Water: an increase of 50% to £822
- Yorkshire Water: an increase of 46% to £682
- Dŵr Cymru: an increase of 43% to £702
- United Utilities: an increase of 38% to £666
- South East Water: an increase of 35% £330
- Pennon: an increase of 33% to £644
- Portsmouth Water: a increase of 31% to £157
- SES: an increase of 30% to £315
- Anglian Water: an increase of 29% to £682
- Northumbrian Water and Essex & Suffolk Water: an increase of 26% to £530
- Affinity Water: an increase of 25% to £294
- South Staffs & Cambridge Water: an increase of 24% to £221
This breaking news story is being updated.