Severn Trent 2025/26 Increase

GertyMcNerdy

Im at a loss about my Severn Trent water bill. Last year £643, this year £ 1,068. It don't know how im supposed to pay a 66 % increase. I've sat on hold for hours and filled in a form to say I want a call back. I can't get hold of anyone.
A small 3 bed semi, one adult 2 kids surely shouldn't be paying £ 1,068.00.  

MattMattMattUK

GertyMcNerdy said:

Im at a loss about my Severn Trent water bill. Last year £643, this year £ 1,068. It don't know how im supposed to pay a 66 % increase. I've sat on hold for hours and filled in a form to say I want a call back. I can't get hold of anyone.
A small 3 bed semi, one adult 2 kids surely shouldn't be paying £ 1,068.00.  

I suspect you are on rateable billing. The solution is to get a water meter installed, which will likely more than halve that figure. Unless you are using an excessive amount of water you will probably end up paying around £350-500 per year. 

GertyMcNerdy

MattMattMattUK said:

GertyMcNerdy said:

Im at a loss about my Severn Trent water bill. Last year £643, this year £ 1,068. It don't know how im supposed to pay a 66 % increase. I've sat on hold for hours and filled in a form to say I want a call back. I can't get hold of anyone.
A small 3 bed semi, one adult 2 kids surely shouldn't be paying £ 1,068.00.  

I suspect you are on rateable billing. The solution is to get a water meter installed, which will likely more than halve that figure. Unless you are using an excessive amount of water you will probably end up paying around £350-500 per year. 

Hi Matt, yes I am. If I could get someone at Severn Trent to respond I would. Ive just gone back through previous bills my bill has increased 112 % over 3 years. I just cant see how its legal to increase a bill by such a huge margin. Its not like we have an option to change supplier.  

MattMattMattUK

GertyMcNerdy said:

MattMattMattUK said:

GertyMcNerdy said:

Im at a loss about my Severn Trent water bill. Last year £643, this year £ 1,068. It don't know how im supposed to pay a 66 % increase. I've sat on hold for hours and filled in a form to say I want a call back. I can't get hold of anyone.
A small 3 bed semi, one adult 2 kids surely shouldn't be paying £ 1,068.00.  

I suspect you are on rateable billing. The solution is to get a water meter installed, which will likely more than halve that figure. Unless you are using an excessive amount of water you will probably end up paying around £350-500 per year. 

Hi Matt, yes I am. If I could get someone at Severn Trent to respond I would.

Have you applied online, or are you trying to call them?

https://www.stwater.co.uk/my-account/my-water-meter/apply-for-a-water-meter/

GertyMcNerdy said:
Ive just gone back through previous bills my bill has increased 112 % over 3 years. I just cant see how its legal to increase a bill by such a huge margin. Its not like we have an option to change supplier.  

It is legal because there is not a law against it. Increases in water bills are approved by Ofwat, which is a government appointed regulator, water companies cannot increase the rates they charge without Ofwat approval and these have to be signed off in advance. 

4justice2

I'm glad I found this thread, I was on the verge of phoning Severn Trent as I thought they'd cocked up my bill. I'd been reading all the stories about a 47% increase over five years so I was budgeting for an increase of around 10% a year.
Instead it's gone up by 30%, but that seems to be what they're charging everyone. So we're supposed to believe the next four years we'll get much lower rises?
At the rate it's going I'll soon be paying more Water Rates than Council Tax!

MattMattMattUK

4justice2 said:

I'm glad I found this thread, I was on the verge of phoning Severn Trent as I thought they'd cocked up my bill. I'd been reading all the stories about a 47% increase over five years so I was budgeting for an increase of around 10% a year.

The average bill will rise by the headline figure, not everyone's bill, it will vary across rateable, assessed and metered according to usage. The headline figure also excludes inflation.

4justice2 said:

Instead it's gone up by 30%, but that seems to be what they're charging everyone. 

Different people are getting different increases, those who are on rateable supply are seeing the highest increases, metered the lowest.

4justice2 said:

So we're supposed to believe the next four years we'll get much lower rises?

The rises will not be as high as this year, they will still be around 5% plus inflation as an average.

4justice2 said:

At the rate it's going I'll soon be paying more Water Rates than Council Tax!

The average water bill is around £45 per month, the average council tax bill is around £220 per month, so no.

benny5

Just picked up on this thread and I’ve realised STW has not, as yet, notified me of the upcoming (2025/26) increases. My supply is metered and I pay by monthly D/D.

Anyone else had the same experience?

benny5

Having looked a bit deeper into this, I discovered they are still in the process of preparing statements. I’ve tried to call them only to be advised that the queuing time was in excess of 1 hour.

Given my new payment regime is due to commence in less than 4 working days I find the whole thing pretty shambolic. And that’s before I see what my new payments are likely to be.

quartzz

I logged in this morning and was able to view my bill once. I've just gone through exactly the same procedure, and got 
this. I guess some friends of friends must have IT government contracts. As opposed to, you know....programmers.

MikeJXE

Finally received my bill to April £103 metered usage 10.45 m3

Previous bill March 24 was £69.27 usage 12 m3. 

So now I can pay more for using less