Ofwat announced that it intended to reduce the total increases that the 16 businesses had proposed by a third.
According to the watchdog, this means that the average bill will increase by 21%, or £19, year.
“The public wants a significant shift in the way water companies handle the environment,” Ofwat CEO David Black said.
“Our proposed decisions regarding company plans authorize a tripling of investment [to £88 billion] in order to continuously improve the environment and customer service.”
Between 2025 and 2030, all companies projected significant increases to their bills; Southern Water led the pack with a proposed increase of about 73%.
According to Ofwat’s analysis, their wishes—including the 42% increase that Thames Water, in the midst of a crisis, is demanding—are unlikely to come true following the plans’ final consultations, given the sector’s intense criticism from a number of directions.
