Water and sewerage bills falling in 2015-16

Water and sewerage bills will fall after April 2015 and even more help will be available for customers struggling with cost of living pressures.

The average water and sewerage bill in England and Wales for 2015-16 will fall by £9 (2%).

In this period, companies will provide a package of measures worth more than £40 million to support customers struggling to pay or in debt, for example through trust funds, debt matching and write-off schemes, debt advice and water efficiency measures to help customers on meters reduce their bills.

By April, 14 of 18 companies will also have social tariffs available for customers to reduce their bills. The other companies either intend to have social tariffs in place in 2016 or are currently consulting their customers about introducing a tariff scheme.

As well as lowering bills and offering more customer support, water companies will continue to invest the billions needed to deliver their customers' priorities, including tackling leakage, preventing supply interruptions and preventing sewer flooding.

Pamela Taylor, Chief Executive, Water UK, said: “Water companies understand the pressures their customers are under and are delivering lower bills and even more support for struggling households.

“Meanwhile, investment in the services their customers want will continue so that our drinking water remains the best in the world and our beaches and rivers are kept cleaner than ever.”

Over the next five years, average water and waste water bills will continue to fall. To keep customers' bills down in this period, the amount the companies provide to their debt and equity investors, who the sector relies on to fund investment in high-quality services to customers, will be reduced.

But companies will still invest more than £44bn to deliver their customers' priorities, including preventing leaks and supply interruptions and better sewage treatment to help keep rivers, coasts and beaches clean.

Companies have set themselves tough targets for the next five years, including:

• saving 370 million litres of water a day by tackling leakage and promoting efficiency
• 32% reduction in the time interruptions affect the supply of water
• 33% fewer properties flooded by wastewater from sewers

The UK water industry contributes at least £15bn to the UK economy each year. The investment over the next five years ensures water companies will continue to provide a wide range of jobs in every region and essential infrastructure to help spur growth.

Forecast average household bills 2015-16

Water UK Communication
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