Water companies in England and Wales are now asking for even higher bill increases than they originally proposed, with one company seeking an 84% hike.
Thames Water, the largest water provider in the UK, is now pushing for a 53% rise, which would bring average bills to £667 per year by 2029/30, according to data from the water regulator, Ofwat. This would make Thames Water customers face the highest water bills in the country.
Southern Water is requesting the biggest increase, at 84%.
Out of the 11 water and wastewater companies in England and Wales, only Wessex Water has not asked for higher increases than they initially proposed to the regulator in July.
Ofwat is expected to make a final decision on December 19 about how much water bills can rise. Its interim decision, released in July, suggested an average annual increase of 21%. Now, water companies are seeking an average increase of 40%, which would see the typical bill rise to £615 by 2030, up from the current average of £439 per year.
These proposed increases come at a time when the government has announced stricter regulations for water companies. Three firms have recently been hit with hundreds of millions in fines by Ofwat due to breaches of regulations. The water companies have argued that these higher bills are necessary to meet new regulatory demands and improve services.
Water companies are under growing pressure to address public concerns over service quality, environmental issues, and the need for infrastructure upgrades. Many have faced criticism for pollution incidents and service failures in recent years.
As Ofwat prepares to make its final decision, households across the country are bracing for potentially significant increases in their water bills, with affordability concerns looming for many consumers.