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Water bill rise will leave millions struggling

Consumer group warns prices will leave households vulnerable

The massive rise in water bills by £123 per year will leave millions worried and feeling the pinch, says the Consumer Council for Water.

The largest rise in water bills since privatisation of the water industry 36 years ago, was announced today.

But the CCW has warned many of the most financially vulnerable households will not be able to cope with the 26% hike – which will take the average water and wastewater bill from £480 to £603.

Some households face even steeper rises with the increases for the main water and sewerage companies ranging from 19% to 47%.

Other factors, such as whether a customer is metered and how much water they use, means the bill changes will vary considerably for customers depending on their circumstances.

New research from CCW has laid bare the challenges already facing many bill-payers, with more than two in five (44%) revealing they have already reduced spending on essentials like food and heating to ensure they can afford household bills, including water.

One in four (25%) households with a water meter said they had reduced what they considered to be essential water use to keep bills affordable.

Water companies are increasing financial assistance, however the CCW says there’s a postcode lottery of social tariff schemes, which means the level of support and who is eligible varies considerably across England and Wales.

Mike Keil, Chief Executive of the CCW said: “These rises are the largest we’ve seen since privatisation and will heap considerable pressure on millions of customers who are already having to make difficult choices.

“Around 2.5 million households are already in debt to their water company and there is a danger that number will grow unless some companies show more ambition around financial support.

“The existing safety net for customers who cannot afford their water bill is not strong enough. That’s why we urgently need a single social tariff scheme to provide fair and consistent support across England and Wales.”

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