Water users warn against big rises in bills

By JON REES
Updated: 17:06 EST, 10 December 2011

Water companies that plan to increase bills drastically after being handed ownership of miles of sewers have been warned off by hard-pressed customers.

Thirsty: Water companies that plan to increase bills drastically

The Consumer Council for Water has carried out a survey, to be published on December 21, of reaction to the water companies’ takeover of private sewers in England and Wales.

Provisional results show that consumers would prefer that the cost of the transfer was spread over a longer period, with a smaller price rise each year, rather than the single, big, backdated increase in 2015 that the rules allow for.

The handover took place on October 1, but water companies are still assessing the size of the networks that they have taken on. It is thought that about half of all Britain’s households could be connected to private sewers.

‘The official estimates are not based on what is being seen on the ground,’ said Steve Hobbs, policy manager for the transfer at the council.

The council and water industry sources fear that the upkeep of the sewers will cost more than the official estimate of up to £14 a year for every household.