Massive increase in water assessed charge?

BigYinUK

Just received our 2025-26 water bill, which is an assessed charge (water supply ONLY) based on 2 people in the house, from South West Water.

It's gone up from £185 to £311.  There's a note at the top of the letter that says that the government £50 subsidy has ended.  Even taking this into account, that's a 32% increase.

This can't be correct surely?

Any words of advice before I call the water company to complain?

Thanks all

The_Groat_Counter

BigYinUK said:

Just received our 2025-26 water bill, which is an assessed charge based on 2 people in the house, from South West Water.

It's gone up from £185 to £311.  There's a note at the top of the letter that says that the government £50 subsidy has ended.  Even taking this into account, that's a 38% increase.
[...]

Small correction, £235 to £311 is a 32% increase.

Tescodealqueen

Ours has gone up by about the same percentage but now over 600 for two of us that’s in Yorkshire

tlcgrantham

Mine with Severn Trent also increased by a third. If you look at other threads you’ll notice that’s about an average increase this year. 

matelodave

Have a look here - just be thankful that you arent a Southern Water customer as you'd be looking at a 47% increase - https://www.water.org.uk/annual-average-bill-changes-2025-2026

I guess that there's not much point in complaining as you haven't been picked on for special treatment 

benny5

tlcgrantham said:

Mine with Severn Trent also increased by a third. If you look at other threads you’ll notice that’s about an average increase this year. 

I’m also with ST and so far, I’ve not had any notification of what my increase will be. They’ve continued to collect DD (today) at the same rate as last year. So I’m at a loss as to know what is happening.

SouthWestex

MY SW Water price increase is 46.41%!! I live alone in a one bedroom flat on an assessed charge. How is that fair?! Let's drum up some resistance to this nonsense. HELP!!!!

dunstonh

SouthWestex said:

MY SW Water price increase is 46.41%!! I live alone in a one bedroom flat on an assessed charge. How is that fair?! Let's drum up some resistance to this nonsense. HELP!!!!

How is it unfair?
As the £50 flat subsidy is being removed, lower users will typically experience a higher increase when viewed as a percentage.  However, those same people have had a previously higher subsidy when viewed as a percentage.     

billpayer232

Hi I’m a newbie but just received a letter from Severn Trent (ST) about increase prices and today received our bill for 4th Feb - 7th Aug 2025. Yes I’ve used more water….I know the reason, but my concern is that the unit price for water has increased from 181.95p to 260.80p per cubic metre….a 43% increase. Wastewater from 130.08p to 150.04p per cubic metre…a 15% increase. Standing charges for water supply from 10.04p to 18.13p/ day a 80.05% increase and for wastewater 7.42p to 14.22p/ day a 91.6% increase!! Surface water and highway drainage haven’t changed.
Looked on Ofwat…they say overall increase £10 per month or 26% to be expected.
Unsure who to complain to…..Ofwat appears to be a toothless dog! Thought I’d pass on the good tidings to you all.
billpayer232

Lorian

That's how it is with the rises this year. Alas there is no one to complain to.

MattMattMattUK

billpayer232 said:

Hi I’m a newbie but just received a letter from Severn Trent (ST) about increase prices and today received our bill for 4th Feb - 7th Aug 2025. Yes I’ve used more water….I know the reason, but my concern is that the unit price for water has increased from 181.95p to 260.80p per cubic metre….a 43% increase. Wastewater from 130.08p to 150.04p per cubic metre…a 15% increase. Standing charges for water supply from 10.04p to 18.13p/ day a 80.05% increase and for wastewater 7.42p to 14.22p/ day a 91.6% increase!! Surface water and highway drainage haven’t changed.
Looked on Ofwat…they say overall increase £10 per month or 26% to be expected.
Unsure who to complain to…..Ofwat appears to be a toothless dog! Thought I’d pass on the good tidings to you all.
billpayer232

There is no one to complain to because the increases were approved by Ofwat at the direction of the government. The headline increase figures are the average across all customers, individually it varies depending on usage and tariff type.

We as a nation have hugely under invested in our water supply for many decades, bills were held down, kept too cheap, but new infrastructure was not built, existing infrastructure was not maintained and upgraded to the required level for half a century or more. The increased investment happening now is just about enough reduce the risk of major risk to water supplies, but that does not mean investment is adequate, it is still well behind where it needs to be.