Households to face average £86 hike to water bills next year alone
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Households to face average £86 hike to water bills next year alone

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Households in England and Wales will see their water bills increase by an “extortionate” average of £86 next year alone, as firms faced accusations of years of under-investment in their crumbling infrastructure. “We know at least two in five households will find these increases difficult to afford but the support being offered by some water companies lacks ambition.” Tom MacInnes, director of policy at Citizens Advice, said the price rises will “hit many households hard”. “Water companies now need to rise to this challenge, customers will rightly expect them to show they can deliver significant improvement over time to justify the increase in bills.” Industry body Water UK said: “After a decade of cuts Ofwat has finally listened to public anger and agreed a much-needed quadrupling of investment in our ageing infrastructure. To protect vulnerable customers, companies will triple the number of households receiving support with their bills to three million over the next five years.” “This Labour Government will ringfence money earmarked for investment so it can never be diverted for bonuses and shareholder payouts.

Water Companies Households Water Companies Ofwat Our Rivers Customers Money Shareholder Payouts Bills Increase This Labour Government  face  rivers  companies  water  households  average  hike  86  customers  money  company  bills  increase  breaking

History of this topic

How much will bills go up in 2025 – and when?
6 days, 13 hours ago

How much will bills go up in 2025 – and when?

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Here’s are the biggest bill rises coming in 2025: Energy bills From 1 January, …

Households urged to submit energy readings amid forecast of further rises ahead
1 week, 1 day ago

Households urged to submit energy readings amid forecast of further rises ahead

The Independent  

Sign up to our free money newsletter for investment analysis and expert advice to help you build wealth Sign up to our free money email for help building your wealth Sign up to our free money email for help building your wealth SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Now is …

A burst sewage pipe forced us out of our three-bed house and now we live in a decrepit caravan… how dare water companies increase their prices - it's the final kick in the teeth
1 week, 4 days ago

A burst sewage pipe forced us out of our three-bed house and now we live in a decrepit caravan… how dare water companies increase their prices - it's the final kick in the teeth

Daily Mail  

A former civil servant who was hospitalised after inhaling fumes from a 'leaking sewage pipe' that forced her out of her home for four years has slammed water companies for a huge bill increase. Julie Houldershaw, 51, and her mother, 77, abandoned their three-bedroom house in Gosberton, Lincolnshire, after the stench of sewage became unbearable Instead, the pair have been …

Furious homeowners brand highest water bill hikes in the UK 'bonkers' as tens of thousands face Christmas weekend cut off from supplies after 'technical issue'
Trending News
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Furious homeowners brand highest water bill hikes in the UK 'bonkers' as tens of thousands face Christmas weekend cut off from supplies after 'technical issue'

Daily Mail  

Residents across Hampshire are furious at seeing their water bills increase after thousands of homes were left without supplies following a 'technical issue'. The issue began on Wednesday morning after Southern Water issued an update confirming there was a technical problem at the Testwood water supply works preventing water from leaving the site. Long queues of cars could be seen …

Fatcat water firm bosses are accused of fleecing households with eye-watering bill hikes to subsidise the broken industry
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Fatcat water firm bosses are accused of fleecing households with eye-watering bill hikes to subsidise the broken industry

Daily Mail  

Fat cat water bosses were last night accused of fleecing households with eye-watering bill hikes to subsidise the broken industry – as they enjoyed bumper bonuses for failure. Mark this day, for it is the day you became angry.’ Singer turned water campaigner Feargal Sharkey said that Ofwat is making people pay 'for decades of criminal activity' Aerial view of …

How water firms could rinse the taxpayer
2 weeks, 6 days ago

How water firms could rinse the taxpayer

The Independent  

It was probably not the best day for the water industry regulator to announce that average bills in England and Wales will increase by 36 per cent over the next five years. Its debts of around £18bn are simply too large to service without swingeing increases in bills and possible taxpayer assistance – subsidies that will end up in the …

Why are water bills going up so much, and what does it mean for consumers?
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Why are water bills going up so much, and what does it mean for consumers?

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Household water bills in England …

The water industry got itself into a mess – why should customers pay the price?
2 weeks, 6 days ago

The water industry got itself into a mess – why should customers pay the price?

The Independent  

The water industry regulator’s website crashed this morning as it announced by quite how much the privatised water companies will soon be able to rinse its customers. Despite Thames Water declaring it had made “solid progress” on its transformation and turnaround, it’s not exactly clear what “progress” means in this instance. Companies like to report several different measures of profit, …

Water bills set for steep price hike after Ofwat review – how much will yours rise by?
Trending News
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Water bills set for steep price hike after Ofwat review – how much will yours rise by?

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Average water bills in England and Wales will increase by …

What do rising water bills mean for YOU? All your questions answered as average household set to pay an extra £31 per year
Trending News
2 weeks, 6 days ago

What do rising water bills mean for YOU? All your questions answered as average household set to pay an extra £31 per year

Daily Mail  

Household water bills in England and Wales will increase by an average £31 a year over the next five years, regulator Ofwat announced today. Household water bills in England and Wales will increase by a total of £157 or 36 per cent over the next five years – an average £31 a year over that period. The Committee will hold …

Thames Water slapped with £18m fine by Ofwat for dishing out 'unjustified' dividends
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Thames Water slapped with £18m fine by Ofwat for dishing out 'unjustified' dividends

Daily Mail  

Thames Water has been handed an £18.2million fine after regulator Ofwat used powers to crack down on firms paying 'unjustified' dividends for the first time. The regulator said Thames Water made interim dividend payouts totalling £37.5million to its holding company, Thames Water Utilities Holdings Limited, in October last year and further payouts of about £158.3million in March 2024. The ruling …

Water bills set to surge by 36%, regulator Ofwat says
Trending News
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Water bills set to surge by 36%, regulator Ofwat says

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Average water bills in England and Wales will increase by …

Household water bills to rise by an average £31 a year from April
Top News
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Household water bills to rise by an average £31 a year from April

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Household water bills in England …

Brits get soaked again! Check how much YOUR water bill is going up by after watchdog signs off massive hikes... with some places facing 53% rise PLUS inflation
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Brits get soaked again! Check how much YOUR water bill is going up by after watchdog signs off massive hikes... with some places facing 53% rise PLUS inflation

Daily Mail  

Water bosses were today given the green light for huge bill hikes averaging 36 per cent over the next five years. Southern Water customers are being hit hardest with bills going up 53 per cent over the period - and inflation projected to add another 10 per cent. The water firms provide supplies to England and Wales The proposed bill …

Creditors in High Court row over Thames Water restructuring plans
3 weeks, 1 day ago

Creditors in High Court row over Thames Water restructuring plans

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But this is opposed by a secondary group of …

Households ‘to be hit with hike in water bills of at least 20 per cent’ sparking backlash
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Households ‘to be hit with hike in water bills of at least 20 per cent’ sparking backlash

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Households are going to be hit with a hike in water …

Thames Water boss defends bonuses and repeats calls for steep bills hikes
4 weeks, 1 day ago

Thames Water boss defends bonuses and repeats calls for steep bills hikes

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Regulator Ofwat revealed in November that Thames Water was …

Thames Water is a leaky pipe – so why are bidders fighting to buy it?
1 month ago

Thames Water is a leaky pipe – so why are bidders fighting to buy it?

The Independent  

It’s not Thames Water anymore and it hasn’t been that for quite some time; it’s Thames Wat-er-mess. The tragedy of this now-zombie company – which has warned that it will run out of cash sometime next year – is that things like leaks, customer service and the untreated sewage that keeps getting pumped into the environment aren’t anywhere near the …

Water firms blocked from using customer cash for ‘undeserved’ £6.8m boss bonuses
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Water firms blocked from using customer cash for ‘undeserved’ £6.8m boss bonuses

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Nine water companies, including stricken …

Water firms blocked from using billpayer cash for ‘unjustifiable’ bonuses
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Water firms blocked from using billpayer cash for ‘unjustifiable’ bonuses

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Troubled Thames Water is among …

Thames Water: Fears of more bill hikes as £38bn bill revealed
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Thames Water: Fears of more bill hikes as £38bn bill revealed

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. A spokesperson for Thames Water said: “We take a rigorous approach to financial discipline …

Two in five households will struggle to afford looming water bill price hikes
2 months ago

Two in five households will struggle to afford looming water bill price hikes

Daily Mail  

Two in five households will struggle to pay a predicted increase in water bills, the water watchdog has warned. A survey by the Consumer Council for Water found 18 per cent of customers are already struggling to afford water bills. Overflowing: Many households are already struggling and cannot afford further bill increases Of that 40 per cent: 43 per cent …

Two in five households will struggle with water bill increases, report warns
2 months ago

Two in five households will struggle with water bill increases, report warns

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Two in five households across …

Polluting water companies to face lighter punishments despite public outrage
2 months, 1 week ago

Polluting water companies to face lighter punishments despite public outrage

The Telegraph  

Failing water companies face lighter punishments under a climbdown being prepared by the industry regulator, risking an increase in leakages, water supply interruptions, and pollution. Investors in Britain’s water sector have rounded on the watchdog, claiming its hardline stance risks deterring further foreign investment in the industry at a time when it is crying out for billions of pounds of …

Thames Water: Why does the struggling water firm need emergency funding?
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Thames Water: Why does the struggling water firm need emergency funding?

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thames Water has said it …

Water companies push for higher bills again as customers face up to 84% hike
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Water companies push for higher bills again as customers face up to 84% hike

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Water companies ask to raise bills by even more than first planned
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Water companies ask to raise bills by even more than first planned

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The watchdog wrote: “We will consider this additional expenditure …

What are the latest penalties for water firms, and will they reduce bills?
3 months ago

What are the latest penalties for water firms, and will they reduce bills?

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The regulator said firms were missing their targets on …

Water firms to return £158m to customers over leaks and pollution failings
3 months ago

Water firms to return £158m to customers over leaks and pollution failings

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Water companies will have to …

Water companies ordered to pay back £158m to customers
3 months ago

Water companies ordered to pay back £158m to customers

The Telegraph  

Water companies have been ordered to return £158m to households as they were rebuked over their poor performance. It comes after water companies’ sewage spills into English rivers and seas more than doubled last year, adding to growing public outrage over the privatised utilities sector. Ofwat chief executive David Black warned that water companies kept blaming “outside causes” rather than …

Water nationalisation comes with more-than £99 billion price tag, minister warns
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Water nationalisation comes with more-than £99 billion price tag, minister warns

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Nationalising water firms would cost …

Starmer plots to raise bills to fund Thames Water bailout
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Starmer plots to raise bills to fund Thames Water bailout

The Telegraph  

Sir Keir Starmer is planning to allow water bills across the country to be raised to pay for a Government bailout of Thames Water. New legislation will let the Government charge all water companies the full £10 billion cost if ministers decide to take over the struggling company. Thames Water has more than £15 billion of debt, and said in …

Water bosses could face prison time under Labour over dumping sewage into Britain’s rivers and lakes
4 months ago

Water bosses could face prison time under Labour over dumping sewage into Britain’s rivers and lakes

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Sewage was pumped into Cumbria’s Lake Windermere in September 2022 …

What will it cost to finally clean up our water industry?
4 months, 1 week ago

What will it cost to finally clean up our water industry?

The Independent  

These are only some of the problems facing the water industry – and a row has erupted about how much money will be needed to solve them. Water UK, the industry’s lobby group, is unhappy about Ofwat’s decision to allow average household bills to rise by £94 per household over the next five years. that its draft decision to cut …

Thames Water proposes huge new bills hike
4 months, 1 week ago

Thames Water proposes huge new bills hike

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In its response to Ofwat’s draft determination on water companies’ …

Water suppliers brace for £2bn in sewage fines
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Water suppliers brace for £2bn in sewage fines

The Telegraph  

Britain’s troubled water sector is facing the threat of £2bn in penalties over the next five years, as regulator Ofwat attempts to crack down on sewage failings. A report by the ratings agency Moody’s has predicted that tougher rules on pollution will spark a flood of regulatory fines, burdening many businesses already struggling to stay afloat. In Moody’s latest assessment …

Every single water company in England and Wales now facing huge sewage investigation by regulator
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Every single water company in England and Wales now facing huge sewage investigation by regulator

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Britain’s water industry regulator is …

Labour gets tough on water firms and ups compensation levels, with payouts set to double - here's how it works
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Labour gets tough on water firms and ups compensation levels, with payouts set to double - here's how it works

Daily Mail  

Households in England and Wales are set to get extra compensation from 'broken' water firms due to a government crackdown on customer service. Thames Oughta : Water companies have agreed to Labour's plans to invest heavily in upgrading the UK's neglected water mains to tackle the sewage crisis in rivers and seas Now the Government has plans to shake up …

Water customers to receive up to £2k compensation payments for serious service failures
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Water customers to receive up to £2k compensation payments for serious service failures

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Water customers will start receiving higher rates of compensation for …

British water firms fined for sewage pollution
5 months ago

British water firms fined for sewage pollution

China Daily  

A van for the water treatment company Thames Water, is driven along a residential street in Guildford, southern England, Aug 6, 2024. Three major water utility companies in the United Kingdom face 168 million pounds in fines for numerous illegal sewage releases into rivers and coastal waters. Ofwat stated that the water companies "failed to ensure that discharges of untreated …

Mapped: Sewage in English rivers as water companies face £168m in combined fines
5 months ago

Mapped: Sewage in English rivers as water companies face £168m in combined fines

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Water regulator Ofwat …

Campaigners welcome £168m sewage fines but warn of ‘broken’ water industry
5 months ago

Campaigners welcome £168m sewage fines but warn of ‘broken’ water industry

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Campaigners have welcomed the multimillion-pound …

Three of England’s biggest water companies face £168m in fines over sewage spills
5 months ago

Three of England’s biggest water companies face £168m in fines over sewage spills

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Industry regulator Ofwat has proposed £168m of fines for three …

Ofwat proposes £168m in fines for three water companies over sewage spills
5 months ago

Ofwat proposes £168m in fines for three water companies over sewage spills

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Ofwat has proposed £168 million …

Sewage spills are STILL rising in the UK with companies failing to get crisis under control, Environment Agency warns in damning report
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Sewage spills are STILL rising in the UK with companies failing to get crisis under control, Environment Agency warns in damning report

Daily Mail  

Sewage spills are still rising in the UK with water companies failing to get the crisis under control, the Environment Agency has warned in a damning report The agency said there were 47 serious pollution incidents last year – up from 44 in 2022. Shocking photos from August 2022 showed how Lake Windermere in the Lake District turned bright green …

Every river in England is polluted, new Environment Secretary Steve Reed warns as he backs 'severe fines' for utilities illegally pumping sewage into lakes and waterways
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Every river in England is polluted, new Environment Secretary Steve Reed warns as he backs 'severe fines' for utilities illegally pumping sewage into lakes and waterways

Daily Mail  

Every single river in England is polluted, the new Environment Secretary claimed today as he backed new 'severe fines' for water companies. He spoke out after regulator Ofwat last week revealed all 11 water firms in England and Wales are under scrutiny as part of a major investigation into sewage pollution in rivers. He spoke out after regulator Ofwat last …

New regulations as Labour tries to answer public anger over water companies
5 months, 3 weeks ago

New regulations as Labour tries to answer public anger over water companies

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Government is bringing in …

Troubled Thames Water braces for enormous fines in latest Ofwat crackdown
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Troubled Thames Water braces for enormous fines in latest Ofwat crackdown

The Telegraph  

Thames Water is bracing for an avalanche of fresh fines running into the hundreds of millions of pounds as it battles to stave off emergency nationalisation. The Telegraph understands Thames is facing steep penalties from Ofwat, the industry regulator, for a catalogue of mistakes and scandals including unsanctioned dividend payments, sewage dumping, and missing basic performance targets. Ofwat is also …

Water bills going up map: Ofwat’s recommendations for your area
5 months, 4 weeks ago

Water bills going up map: Ofwat’s recommendations for your area

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Water bills in England and Wales are set to rise …

Discover Related