Water firms want more of your cash - find out how much your bill is set to rise

Water firms have applied to Ofwat to raise bills even further so they can upgrade their networks after years of under-investment. It could see larger bills for most

Water companies are trying to increase bills by even more than first thought – with one seeking a huge 84% rise.

Regulator Ofwat is in the process of deciding how much bills in England and Wales will be allowed to rise, with the final ­decision made on December 19. In July, it provisionally agreed to allow them to rise by an average of £19 a year between 2025 and 2030. This would be a 21% rise or a £94 increase over that period.

But now firms have applied to Ofwat to raise bills even further so they can upgrade their networks after years of under-investment. Southern Water wants an 84% rise, not the 44% July figure, over the next five years.

And crisis-hit Thames Water said it needed 53%, not the proposed 23%, to continue ­operating as normal. Such an increase would push Thames bills to £667 a year by 2029/30. It comes after sewage spills into England’s lakes, rivers and seas by water companies more than doubled in 2023, to 3.6 million hours from 1.75 million in 2022.

Ofwat fined Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian £168million for failings, including over sewage treatment which the watch-dog said the firms had “routinely released sewage into our rivers and seas.”

Environment Secretary Steve Reed has announced a full review of the water sector. Scott Dixon, of The Complaints Resolver, urged Ofwat to reject the water companies’ demands. He said: “Hard-pressed households will find this appalling and will question why they should pay for years of under-investment, increased regulation and fines when the water companies have paid out billions to investors and shareholders.”

Bill rises previously forecast by Ofwat just three months ago

Average annual bill in 2029-30 (with percentage change from current prices in brackets)

Southern Water £603 (+44%)

Hafren Dyfrdwy £524 (+32%)

Dŵr Cymru £603 (+29%)

Yorkshire Water £537 (+25%)

Severn Trent Water £496 (+23%)

Thames Water £535 (+23%)

United Utilities £536 (+21%)

Portsmouth Water £135 (+18%)

South Staffs Water £183 (+14%)

Anglian Water £557 (+13%)

South West Water £561 (+13%)

Northumbrian Water £460 (+11%)

South East Water £248 (+8%)

Affinity Water £203 (+6%)

Wessex Water £497 (-2%)

SES Water £187 (-15%)

Source: Ofwat

Consumer Council for Water’s Mike Keil called for more help for customers struggling financially. He said: “The financial support provided by water companies for struggling customers does not go far enough and there remains a pressing need to introduce fairer and more consistent support through a single social tariff.”