Weren't the water companies fined?

Evanna

I remember reading at the end of last year that several water companies had been fined for not meeting targets, meaning they'd have to lower their prices. I was quite relieved given the cost of living.
Now however the first of the 2023-24 direct debits is about to go out (I missed that there'd been a letter since of course they didn't alert me to it) and it's higher again!
This is a 2 bed maisonette with 2 people and we're expected to pay Yorkshire water £606.66! That's 8.8% more than the year before.

I've seen meters recommended and I might look into that more (but we also wanted a smart electric meter and the local grid people have been useless about that...) But this is getting absurd. Not only is it going up instead of down, it's obviously increased by plenty more than my wages did.
All help appreciated or if any of you know why it's gone up after all, I'd love to know.

Sarahspangles

Three bed house, 2 people, car and bike washing and occasional use of a sprinkler.  £503.40 metered.

Penguin_

Three bed house, 2 adults & a dog is £384 a year metered.

MattMattMattUK

Evanna said:

I remember reading at the end of last year that several water companies had been fined for not meeting targets, meaning they'd have to lower their prices. I was quite relieved given the cost of living.
Now however the first of the 2023-24 direct debits is about to go out (I missed that there'd been a letter since of course they didn't alert me to it) and it's higher again!
This is a 2 bed maisonette with 2 people and we're expected to pay Yorkshire water £606.66! That's 8.8% more than the year before.

I've seen meters recommended and I might look into that more (but we also wanted a smart electric meter and the local grid people have been useless about that...) But this is getting absurd. Not only is it going up instead of down, it's obviously increased by plenty more than my wages did.
All help appreciated or if any of you know why it's gone up after all, I'd love to know.

Their prices have gone up due to inflation.

https://www.yorkshirewater.com/media/etyfuyc3/44662_statement-of-significant-changes_2023-24_web-01.pdf

Evanna said:

I've seen meters recommended and I might look into that more (but we also wanted a smart electric meter and the local grid people have been useless about that...) But this is getting absurd. Not only is it going up instead of down, it's obviously increased by plenty more than my wages did.
All help appreciated or if any of you know why it's gone up after all, I'd love to know.

It will have gone up for everyone. If you have a meter it will be probably be significantly cheaper as they are for all but the highest users. 

Evanna

Their prices have gone up due to inflation.

yorkshirewater.com/media/etyfuyc3/44662_statement-of-significant-changes_2023-24_web-01

I can appreciate that they're charging inflation, but:
Price of last year - reduction obliged by fines + inflation = more than last year?
That's not any kind of math that makes sense to me.

Having talked it over with the wife we're unlikely to switch to meters as they don't want to have a fluctuating water bill and it would lead to us keeping a very close eye on it, cutting out nice (sometimes needed) things like baths in an everlasting push to cut cost. Quality of life right down the drain.

MattMattMattUK

Evanna said:

Having talked it over with the wife we're unlikely to switch to meters as they don't want to have a fluctuating water bill and it would lead to us keeping a very close eye on it, cutting out nice (sometimes needed) things like baths in an everlasting push to cut cost. Quality of life right down the drain.

Run your circumstances through the water meter calculator below, I suspect that even with all the "nice" things you would see your bill halve and the bill generally will not fluctuate, unless you are incredibly wasteful. They set the Direct Debit based on estimates initially and then usage once they have a year's data, the Direct Debit could be set at the current level for the first year and in twelve months time you would get a nice amount back from overpayments. 

https://www.ccw.org.uk/save-money-and-water/water-meter-calculator/

Evanna said:

Their prices have gone up due to inflation.

yorkshirewater.com/media/etyfuyc3/44662_statement-of-significant-changes_2023-24_web-01

I can appreciate that they're charging inflation, but:
Price of last year - reduction obliged by fines + inflation = more than last year?
That's not any kind of math that makes sense to me.

Water is slightly more complicated than that, they have allowable costs, they have a permitted level of profit, they have costs based on ongoing network upgrades, those are all agreed in advance and the costs then reflected in the billing calculation. Inflation will not apply at a flat rate either, some things might have only moved 5% (wages), but cost of water main pipes could have gone up 50%, imported high pressure pumps and chemicals could have more than doubled. Inflation, even RPI or CPI vastly outstrip the reduction from the fines, even more so when you delve into the specific inflation facing certain sectors. 

[Deleted User]

Given climate change and our increasing population, I can well see water meters becoming mandatory across the country. Water is in short supply in many areas, and our infrastructure is creaking due to a lack of investment.

born_again

Evanna said:

Having talked it over with the wife we're unlikely to switch to meters as they don't want to have a fluctuating water bill and it would lead to us keeping a very close eye on it, cutting out nice (sometimes needed) things like baths in an everlasting push to cut cost. Quality of life right down the drain.

Yorkshire Water only change bill amount once a year on meters.
2 bed bungalow 3 adults. £32 a month, down £7 a month on last year due to less usage.

YW were fined.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/yorkshire-water-fined-by-ofwat-for-failing-to-reach-pollution-targets-why-customers-will-get-reduced-bills-next-year-3866552

Of course, inflation has going up a lot since then, so guess that is their excuse for the rises, rather than reduction 🤣

We will return that money to our customers by factoring it in to next year’s water charges. Charges for 23/24 have not yet been determined, and are influenced by a number of different factors, including inflation and our performance.”

Sarahspangles

We really don’t watch our meter and even when my two were living at home during the pandemic and taking baths (not much else to do!) our usage was lower than the unmetered charge seems to assume.  

I can see how a meter would tempt some people to be overly frugal.  My OH is annoyingly penny-pinching about parking costs!

born_again

Never look at our meter. Just use what we want.
So was surprised by the reduction.

Always used to use the adage. "3 wee's = Royal Flush"

[Deleted User]

born_again said:

Never look at our meter. Just use what we want.
So was surprised by the reduction.

Always used to use the adage. "3 wee's = Royal Flush"

Or, ‘if it’s yellow let it mellow: if it’s brown then flush it down’