{"id":718,"date":"2024-05-21T13:33:01","date_gmt":"2024-05-21T13:33:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/isog.xyz\/?p=718"},"modified":"2024-05-21T13:33:01","modified_gmt":"2024-05-21T13:33:01","slug":"ce55vp78n40o-amp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/isog.xyz\/?p=718","title":{"rendered":"Water companies are asking for bill increases between 24% and 91%"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\">\n<figure class=\"bbc-1qn0xuy\">\n<div class=\"bbc-j1srjl\" style=\"padding-bottom:56.22%\"><amp-img class=\"bbc-image\" layout=\"responsive\" alt=\"Woman drinking glass of water\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/ws\/640\/cpsprodpb\/ae45\/live\/faa9ec60-1774-11ef-a62a-0b5a43c99392.jpg\" width=\"1697\" height=\"954\" fallback=\"\" attribution=\"Getty Images\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/ws\/240\/cpsprodpb\/ae45\/live\/faa9ec60-1774-11ef-a62a-0b5a43c99392.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/ws\/320\/cpsprodpb\/ae45\/live\/faa9ec60-1774-11ef-a62a-0b5a43c99392.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/ws\/480\/cpsprodpb\/ae45\/live\/faa9ec60-1774-11ef-a62a-0b5a43c99392.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/ws\/624\/cpsprodpb\/ae45\/live\/faa9ec60-1774-11ef-a62a-0b5a43c99392.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/ws\/800\/cpsprodpb\/ae45\/live\/faa9ec60-1774-11ef-a62a-0b5a43c99392.jpg 800w\" data-hero=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"bbc-by8ykd\" role=\"text\"><span class=\"bbc-m04vo2\">Image source, <\/span>Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<section role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"article-byline\" class=\"bbc-1vjaf6b\"><strong id=\"article-byline\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"bbc-m04vo2\">Item information<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"bbc-1rvtlej\">\n<li><span role=\"text\"><span class=\"bbc-m04vo2\">Author, <\/span><span class=\"bbc-1ypcc2\">Simon Jack and Oliver Smith<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span role=\"text\"><span class=\"bbc-m04vo2\">Role, <!-- --> <\/span><span class=\"bbc-1y5sx98\">Business editor and business reporter, BBC News<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"bbc-v8pmqw\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\"><time datetime=\"2024-05-21\" class=\"bbc-1dafq0j e1mklfmt0\">May 21, 2024, 2:33 PM BST<\/time><\/p>\n<p><time datetime=\"2024-05-21\" class=\"bbc-1dafq0j e1mklfmt0\">Updated 2 hours ago<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Water companies in England and Wales want bills to rise by 24% to 91% over the next five years, according to figures from the consumer watchdog.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Southern Water is asking for the biggest jump of 91%, while South Staffordshire and Cambridge Water are asking for the lowest increase of 24%, according to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW). <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Water companies say the increases will fund \u00a3100bn of spending over the period, including replacing aging, leaking pipes and reducing sewage discharges into rivers and seas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">The latest demands for a bill come ahead of a crucial meeting this week where regulator Ofwat will decide what companies can charge between 2025 and 2030.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Water utilities have been heavily criticized for widespread leaks and the amount of sewage discharged, which critics blame on underinvestment in the country&#8217;s infrastructure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Fewer than one in six customers find the increase in water bills affordable, according to a survey that saw Ofwat demanding companies survey their own customers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">The regulator is unlikely to fully approve the law&#8217;s increases, but the BBC understands it is expected to agree to increases of at least half the amount companies are asking for, and in some cases significantly more than the half.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">CCW CEO Mike Keil said the law&#8217;s increases &#8220;will come as a huge surprise to people.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">\u201cPeople want to see improvements, they understand that this will require investment, but I think the scale of what is being proposed here will be a real shock and this is why water companies have redoubled their efforts to explain what people are.  what they get their money for,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h2 id=\"How-much-do-companies-want-to-increase-their-bills-by\" tabindex=\"-1\" class=\"bbc-kf21ty eglt09e0\">How much do companies want to increase their bills?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"etpldq00 bbc-oa9drk ebmt73l0\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<ul dir=\"ltr\" role=\"list\" class=\"bbc-1q9yy8j evvt9po1\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"bbc-acwcvw evvt9po0\"><b>Southern Water \u2013 increase of 91% to \u00a3915 per year by 2030<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"etpldq00 bbc-oa9drk ebmt73l0\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<ul dir=\"ltr\" role=\"list\" class=\"bbc-1q9yy8j evvt9po1\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"bbc-acwcvw evvt9po0\"><b>Thames Water \u2013 59% to \u00a3749<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"etpldq00 bbc-oa9drk ebmt73l0\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<ul dir=\"ltr\" role=\"list\" class=\"bbc-1q9yy8j evvt9po1\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"bbc-acwcvw evvt9po0\"><b>Hafren Dyfredwy \u2013 56% to \u00a3676<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"etpldq00 bbc-oa9drk ebmt73l0\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<ul dir=\"ltr\" role=\"list\" class=\"bbc-1q9yy8j evvt9po1\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"bbc-acwcvw evvt9po0\"><b>Severn Trent \u2013 \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b50% up to \u00a3657<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"etpldq00 bbc-oa9drk ebmt73l0\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<ul dir=\"ltr\" role=\"list\" class=\"bbc-1q9yy8j evvt9po1\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"bbc-acwcvw evvt9po0\"><b>Wessex Water &#8211; 50% up to \u00a3822<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"etpldq00 bbc-oa9drk ebmt73l0\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<ul dir=\"ltr\" role=\"list\" class=\"bbc-1q9yy8j evvt9po1\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"bbc-acwcvw evvt9po0\"><b>Yorkshire Water \u2013 46% to \u00a3682<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"etpldq00 bbc-oa9drk ebmt73l0\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<ul dir=\"ltr\" role=\"list\" class=\"bbc-1q9yy8j evvt9po1\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"bbc-acwcvw evvt9po0\"><b>D\u0175r Cymru &#8211; 43% to \u00a3702<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"etpldq00 bbc-oa9drk ebmt73l0\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<ul dir=\"ltr\" role=\"list\" class=\"bbc-1q9yy8j evvt9po1\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"bbc-acwcvw evvt9po0\"><b>United Utilities \u2013 38% to \u00a3666<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"etpldq00 bbc-oa9drk ebmt73l0\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<ul dir=\"ltr\" role=\"list\" class=\"bbc-1q9yy8j evvt9po1\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"bbc-acwcvw evvt9po0\"><b>South East Water &#8211; 35% \u00a3330<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"etpldq00 bbc-oa9drk ebmt73l0\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<ul dir=\"ltr\" role=\"list\" class=\"bbc-1q9yy8j evvt9po1\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"bbc-acwcvw evvt9po0\"><b>Portsmouth Water \u2013 31% to \u00a3157<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"etpldq00 bbc-oa9drk ebmt73l0\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<ul dir=\"ltr\" role=\"list\" class=\"bbc-1q9yy8j evvt9po1\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"bbc-acwcvw evvt9po0\"><b>Anglian Water &#8211; 29% to \u00a3682<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"etpldq00 bbc-oa9drk ebmt73l0\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<ul dir=\"ltr\" role=\"list\" class=\"bbc-1q9yy8j evvt9po1\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"bbc-acwcvw evvt9po0\"><b>Northumbrian Water and Essex &#038; Suffolk Water &#8211; 26% to \u00a3530<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"etpldq00 bbc-oa9drk ebmt73l0\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<ul dir=\"ltr\" role=\"list\" class=\"bbc-1q9yy8j evvt9po1\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"bbc-acwcvw evvt9po0\"><b>Affinity Water 25% to \u00a3294<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"etpldq00 bbc-oa9drk ebmt73l0\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<ul dir=\"ltr\" role=\"list\" class=\"bbc-1q9yy8j evvt9po1\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"bbc-acwcvw evvt9po0\"><b>South Staffs &#038; Cambridge Water &#8211; 24% to \u00a3221<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\"><i class=\"bbc-h1y5j7 eih42320\">Source: Consumer Council for Water<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\"><i class=\"bbc-h1y5j7 eih42320\">Estimates are for average bills.  Costs vary depending on the taxable value of a property <\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section role=\"region\" aria-label=\"Related content\" dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-1n4f7vm ebmt73l0\"\/>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">The latest figures from the CCW include changes from the companies, regulator Ofwat and other bodies, including the Environment Agency, since their five-year plans for the 2025-2030 period were first submitted last October.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">The proposed increases include a forecast inflation rate of 2%, which is in line with the Bank of England&#8217;s target.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">There is a very wide range of proposed bill increases, reflecting the very different challenges faced by businesses in different parts of England and Wales.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Southern&#8217;s very high figure reflects major improvements to water infrastructure that have had serious problems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Katy Taylor, Southern Water&#8217;s chief customer officer, said the company shared &#8220;everyone&#8217;s concerns about rising payments&#8221;, but added that &#8220;the water needs of our water-stressed region present a unique set of challenges that require significant investment&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">She said the money from higher bills would be used to &#8220;reduce the use of storm overflows, secure water supplies for a rapidly growing population and protect the environment.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Southern Water is owned by Australian firm Macquarie, which has come under fierce criticism during its time as Thames Water&#8217;s largest shareholder. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">In five of the 10 years it owned Thames, the company paid out more dividends than profits, while debt rose from \u00a32.5 billion to more than \u00a310 billion in the same period.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Macquarie points out that it recently injected \u00a3500m of additional cash into Southern Water.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Water UK, which represents suppliers, said increases in bills were \u201cnever welcome\u201d and added that water companies are \u201cmassively increasing the level of financial support they provide to customers struggling to pay their bills\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">\u201cOfwat is currently investigating these plans and will only allow investments that are new, necessary and value for money.  It will not allow water companies to spend money on something for which they have already received funding,\u201d the trade association said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Ofwat will publish a preliminary report on June 12 on the law increases it expects to pass.  The figures will be finalized in December.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">In Northern Ireland and Scotland, water services are publicly owned.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Image source, Getty Images Item information Author, Simon Jack and Oliver Smith Role, Business editor and business reporter, BBC News [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":719,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[315,314,316,313],"class_list":["post-718","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","tag-bill","tag-companies","tag-increases","tag-water"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/isog.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/718","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/isog.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/isog.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isog.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isog.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=718"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/isog.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/718\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isog.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/719"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/isog.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=718"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isog.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=718"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isog.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}