Water bills are going up by an average of 2% across England and Wales – how much is yours going up?
The average water bill is rising by £6 per year - but how much is yours going up by? We reveal the rises
HOUSEHOLDS in England and Wales will be charged an average £395 for their water and sewerage over the coming year - an increase of 2 per cent, adding £6 per year to bills.
Water UK, which represents water companies, said the average 2 per cent increase is in line with five-year plans confirmed by regulator Ofwat in 2014.
It comes as companies roll out compulsory water meters for households in areas of the South East designated as being under "serious water stress".
Water UK said almost all companies now have social tariffs in place to help cut bills for low-income households by as much as 90 per cent.
These tariffs are available to those who are struggling to pay bills or are in debt. Those who think they may be eligible will need to speak to their water company directly to see if they qualify.
RELATED STORIES
Water UK chief executive Michael Roberts said: "This year, details on bills in England and Wales are being published alongside information on how water companies are performing.
"We hope this will both inform the ongoing conversations about priorities between companies and their customers, and provide a signpost to the help available from each water company for those households who genuinely struggle to pay."
AVERAGE FORECAST FOR BILL INCREASES (AND FALLS)
DATA from Water UK reveals that the average household water bill for 2017-18 will go up by: Water and sewerage companies
- Anglian - up £1 or 1%
- Dwr Cymru - up £1 or less than 1%
- Northumbrian/North East - up £12 or 3%
- Severn Trent - up £14 or 4%
- South West - down £6 or 1% drop
- Southern - up £6 or 1%
- Thames - up £2 or less than 1%
- United Utilities - up £8 or 2%
- Wessex - up £8 or 2%
- Yorkshire - up £8 or 2%
Companies who only supply water
- Central region - no change
- East region - up £2 or 1%
- Southeast region - up £3 or 1%
- Bournemouth - down £6 or 4%
- Bristol - up £6 or 4%
- Dee Valley - up £3 or 2%
- Essex & Suffolk - up £4 or 2%
- Portsmouth up £2 or 2%
- South East - up £8 or 4%
- Cambridge - up £1 or 1%
- South Staffordshire - up £1 or 1%
- Sutton and East Surrey - no change
Households will be contacted via letter about changes to their bills. You can see how much your bill could go up by on .
You'll need to click on the company comparison and view previous years for an interactive graph.
The Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) said only around half of the 400,000 households who stand to benefit from such schemes have signed up for help and are missing out on lower bills.
COULD YOU SAVE WITH A WATER METER?
UNLIKE other bills you can't cancel your water to switch to a cheaper deal. Your water provider is determined by where you live. But there's still a way you could save money.
As a general rule, if your home has the same or more bedrooms than people then you might be able to save money with a water meter.
It means that you only pay for the water that you use, so you'll need to be aware of your water usage or your bills may go up.
You can calculate whether you can save by switching using the . Meters are installed free of charge in England and Wales.
CCWater chief executive Tony Smith said: "Most customers will see their bills rise from April. That will come as a blow to those households already struggling to keep their head above water.
"The good news is water companies have a growing number of schemes to help customers who are feeling the pinch. Some of these can provide lower bills and therefore shield households from the effects of price rises.
"But a lot of that support is still not reaching those that need it most."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368