In the face of growing economic pressures and the cost of living crisis, Southern Water is increasing its household bills in line with inflation for the 2023-24 period.
This means dual service customers can expect an increase of 9.4% on their charges, with an average annual bill rising from £401 to £439, while water-only bills will go up by 9% and waste only by 9.7%.
As well as helping to ensure they continue to improve their performance and provide the service their customers and environment deserve, this rise will also enable Southern Water to help more people in financial difficulty than ever before via our £98m support package for those in need.
In the last few years, Southern Water have worked hard to keep bills as low as possible in recent years. In real terms, the 2023-24 average bill is still 12.5% lower than 4 years ago, and our annual bill changes have been below inflation throughout that period, decreasing in 2 of those years.
Last year’s average dual bill of £401 was 4% lower than the industry average of £419.
Katy Taylor, Southern Water’s Chief Customer Officer, said:
“We are aware that the UK’s cost-of-living crisis is a worry for many of our customers, and this is why plans to increase tariffs are never taken lightly.
“The rise this year reflects the growing economic pressures of chemical, energy and wage inflation.
Article continues below this advertisement “We are channelling more money than ever before into supporting customers in need – particularly those who may struggle to pay their bills. This £98m will boost the support package we already offer customers including payment holidays, special tariffs, debt write-offs, bill reductions and grants for household items.
So utilities can increase in line with inflation but the rest of us cannot get pay increases in line with inflation. Something stinks in this world!
Maybe it was a well implemented plan by the government and companies to disempower people?
Thatcher’s spin doctor has literally admitted that they destroyed unions to disempower workers.
Thanks torys
But anyone on Benefits will see a rise in line with inflation………….
Is this rise offsetting the losses they incur by allowing leeches to keep having water, without paying for it.
No, it is for more profit for foreign investors !
Spot on ! Read the last paragraph – where do you think the 98m will come from? where it always comes from, out of the pockets of those of us ,who pay their bills.
All monies will be going directly into part-owner Macquarie’s ever open pocket. The poor infrastructure and illegal sewage discharges will remain. Privatising Water and Sewage services was the worst ever decision by inept politicians who have sold the UK down the drain.
The average bill being 12.5% lower than 4 years ago might have something to do with OfWat instructing SW to refund millions overcharged previously.
But it is odd that a utility can just inflation-proof its charges without a word of warning, let alone consultation, and in the face of dire performance at the same time.
Anybody would think we had a free-market government.
The WEF plan is to crash the economy and bring in a social credit system.
It is happening
High Inflation, High Interest rates, High Energy bills, Higher Council Tax and now
Higher water bills.
At some point soon many of us will run out of money at which point increases of 10% or 10,000% won’t make any difference because we won’t be able to pay.
Good job my 2% pay rise will cover this. Others will be drowning in debt soon.
Our water bills wouldn’t be too bad if it wasn’t for the stupid over the top standing charge. My water in and out is about £30 for 6 months but because of the standing charge I’m paying £89 for 6 months what gives
They can charge it, so they are going to. What are you going to do? Stop buying water? It’s the uncomfortable rule of inelastic supply and demand in a capitalist economy.
When these companies get fined their customers pay for it. Don’t fine them, cap them.
I can buy my gas and/or electricity from several different companies.Why is there only one company I can get my water from?