non-metered percentage rise

StinkerPinker

Hi, I've just checked my bill for next year's water supply & sewage service and it's showing a 7.4% rise over last year, from just under £550 to about £590.

Is this percentage normal in the industry for this year, and if excessive what can I do about it?

Thanks.
stinker...

Cardew

There is an article about new price structures on MSE and elsewhere on the web. Generally prices will fall slightly in 2015/16 depending on where you live; but there are some rises.

Today's news follows Ofwat's announcement in December 2014 that water bills will fall by about £20 over the next five years after it told suppliers to cut bills by an average of 5% between 2015 and 2020 (see the Water bills to fall by average of 5% over the next five years MSE News story for more information).
The majority of companies are cutting prices, but a few are increasing them. How much you'll pay depends on whether you have a water meter, and which company supplies you.
Here are some examples of the new average prices:

• Combined water and sewerage customers: Anglian Water users will see the largest price fall at 7%, or £29, so bills will drop from an average of £431/year to £402/year. In comparison, Northumbrian Water customers, which includes Essex & Suffolk Water, will see bills rise by 1%, or £4/year, taking prices from £367/year to £371/year.

You don't say where you live, but I would look up the company(s) website for information.

Cardew

For Severn Trent water - one of the largest in UK:

New Charges – Unmetered customers

The average unmeasured household water bill (full service) is reducing by 1.2% for 2015/16.

Water supply charges are increasing by 1.4% and the charges for treatment of waste water are reducing by 4.0%.

Please be aware that charges do differ depending on the rateable value of your property and where you live.

New Charges – Metered Customers

The average metered household receiving both water and sewerage services will see reduction of 5.0% overall.

Water supply charges are reducing by 3.4%, whilst waste water treatment charges are reducingby 7.4%. Standing charges for both water supply and sewerage services are increasing by 2.0%.

Surface water drainage charges based on rateable value are reducing by 2.2%. Property type based surface water drainage charges for detached properties are reducing by 14.8%, for semi-detached properties they are reducing by 9.8%, but for Flats/Terraced properties they are increasing by 4.9%.

Individual measured customers may see and increase slightly higher or lower than the average depending upon their level of consumption.

StinkerPinker

Hi again, and thanks for the replies. I live not far from Stansted Airport in the AffinityWater area - many incarnations ago Three Valleys Water!

Sounds like my forthcoming yearly bill is out out line with some other suppliers. Perhaps they will modify it before actually sending it out - it was just the online account balance I was checking - no paper bill received yet.

Cheers, and thanks again
stinker

macman

Since you are on RV billing, all you can do is fit a meter for 12m and see if it's cheaper-and then revert to RV billing if not. Nothing to lose.
Since you know your RV from previous bills, you can look at the new charges and then calculate exactly what your annual bill should be.