UK water bills to rise as regulator green lights $4.6 billion in extra spending
Ofwat says 13 water companies want the extra funding to maintain services, build treatment plants and address rising demand and pollutants.
- Water regulator Ofwat provisionally approved £3.4 billion in additional spending on Thursday, allowing five suppliers to increase customer bills through the end of the decade for infrastructure and environmental improvements.
- Thirteen firms originally requested £4.3 billion to address infrastructure pressures including new housing, data centres, and PFAS removal; Ofwat approved around 96% of eligible expenditure totaling £3.39 billion.
- Five companies, including debt-laden Thames Water and Severn Trent Water, may raise bills before 2030, while eight other firms must defer recovery of additional spending until after that date.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham criticized the decision, stating customers "cannot be treated as a blank cheque," while the Consumer Council for Water demanded Ofwat justify every pound of the £3.4 billion.
- Public consultation on the draft determination remains open until September 24, 2026, with Ofwat scheduled to issue a final verdict in December regarding the infrastructure and environmental investment package.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Water bills hiked for households
Water bills are set to rise for customers of five water companies after Ofwat provisionally approve £3.4bn of additional investment. Southern Water customers face the biggest increases, with bills rising by £43 through 2027 and 2028. The company had sought more than £1bn of the £4.3bn requested across the sector, with around two-thirds relating to projects not fully covered by existing funding. Customers of Severn Trent Water and Thames Water wi…
Severn Trent customers face further bill increases after Ofwat approves £329m investment
Severn Trent customers face paying an additional £3 on their annual water bill from 2027/28, rising to £5 by 2029/30, under provisional plans announced by the industry regulator. Ofwat has provisionally approved £329 million of additional expenditure for Severn Trent Water as part of a wider £3.4 billion investment package covering the water sector. The […]
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