Watershare + - South West Water Share offer

Boanerges

I’m no particular apologist for South West Water, but whatever they do, they don’t fleece us.  Having clean water on tap is actually a huge privilege – a privilege millions, if not billions of people in the world do not have. And what’s more, they take it away afterwards, including all the **** we contribute along the way, and treat it pretty effectively.  Remember the Sidmouth ‘fatberg’ anyone? Someone had to dig it out.  Sometimes we seem to know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. We should count our blessings and I speak to myself more than anyone else. Why not put your £20 towards a toilet twinning instead? [www.toilettwinning.org].  If you can’t spare the £60 it costs to build a khazi on your own, team up with your neighbours.  It would start a conversation, if nothing else – and you wouldn’t get lumbered with the wretched share.

Zanderman

Boanerges said:

I’m no particular apologist for South West Water, but whatever they do, they don’t fleece us. Having clean water on tap is actually a huge privilege – a privilege millions, if not billions of people in the world do not have. And what’s more, they take it away afterwards, including all the **** we contribute along the way, and treat it pretty effectively.  Remember the Sidmouth ‘fatberg’ anyone? Someone had to dig it out...

That's not an argument for them not fleecing you/us.  All other water companies provide the same service but charge much less. 

SW Water have by far the most expensive water in the country. This is well-known.  According to this article on Devon Live for example (https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/how-much-more-devon-residents-1366465):

South West Water customers pay £943 a year based on typical usage (165 m3/yr for a 4 person household), where as Thames Water pay £440.

That's a massive difference - for the same service. Thames Water (and all other UK water companies that are cheaper than SW Water) also have fatbergs to deal with, also supply wonderful clean water. 

There are arguably reasons for SW Water charging more - in terms of the costs involved in its geographic area.  

But it's impossible for the consumer to judge whether their charges are either reasonable or over the top.  So they may well be fleecing you/us, or they may well not be.

Bobziz

Boanerges said:

I’m no particular apologist for South West Water, but whatever they do, they don’t fleece us.  Having clean water on tap is actually a huge privilege – a privilege millions, if not billions of people in the world do not have. And what’s more, they take it away afterwards, including all the **** we contribute along the way, and treat it pretty effectively.  Remember the Sidmouth ‘fatberg’ anyone? Someone had to dig it out.  Sometimes we seem to know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. We should count our blessings and I speak to myself more than anyone else. Why not put your £20 towards a toilet twinning instead? [www.toilettwinning.org].  If you can’t spare the £60 it costs to build a khazi on your own, team up with your neighbours.  It would start a conversation, if nothing else – and you wouldn’t get lumbered with the wretched share.

they may take it all away, but it doesn't always get to where it should do. SWW have consistently been one of the worst performing companies from an environmental perspective over the last 8 years. All the more reason to become a shareholder and have a say https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-and-sewerage-companies-in-england-environmental-performance-report-2019

bundoran

Zanderman said:

Boanerges said:

I’m no particular apologist for South West Water, but whatever they do, they don’t fleece us. Having clean water on tap is actually a huge privilege – a privilege millions, if not billions of people in the world do not have. And what’s more, they take it away afterwards, including all the **** we contribute along the way, and treat it pretty effectively.  Remember the Sidmouth ‘fatberg’ anyone? Someone had to dig it out...

That's not an argument for them not fleecing you/us.  All other water companies provide the same service but charge much less. 

SW Water have by far the most expensive water in the country. This is well-known.  According to this article on Devon Live for example (https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/how-much-more-devon-residents-1366465):

South West Water customers pay £943 a year based on typical usage (165 m3/yr for a 4 person household), where as Thames Water pay £440.

That's a massive difference - for the same service. Thames Water (and all other UK water companies that are cheaper than SW Water) also have fatbergs to deal with, also supply wonderful clean water. 

There are arguably reasons for SW Water charging more - in terms of the costs involved in its geographic area.  

But it's impossible for the consumer to judge whether their charges are either reasonable or over the top.  So they may well be fleecing you/us, or they may well not be.

The link to Devonlive appears to be broken.

According to the Discover Water website of WaterUK the "average" bill in England and Wales for 2020 for water and sewerage in England and Wales is £397 a year, with the cheapest being the tiny Hafren Dyfrdwy (the artist formerly known as Dee Valley Water Company which serves a small area around Chester and Wrexham) at £300 and the most expensive being South West Water at £470 - somewhat less than the figures quoted above.

However South West is only £19 a year more expensive than Welsh Water and £23 a year more expensive than Wessex Water.

https://discoverwater.co.uk/annual-bill

* You need to click on the "Click for company comparison" link and then scroll right on the panel that appears in order to see the individual company breakdown.

Sailtheworld

I took the share(s). Maybe the next Berkshire Hathaway. 

Andyw666

We've only just received the offer by snailmail.... and it's for £13 not £20.
Can anyone shed light on why the offer appears to have reduced? Or is the amount offered based on customers' annual bills perhaps?

MX5huggy

Andyw666 said:

We've only just received the offer by snailmail.... and it's for £13 not £20.
Can anyone shed light on why the offer appears to have reduced? Or is the amount offered based on customers' annual bills perhaps?

The original discussion is from 2020, this year the offer is £13 but because the share price is £10 (today) you will get 2 shares anyway or £13 credit on your bill.