Massive increase in water assessed charge?

mmmmikey

Thanks, I agree with much of what you are saying. I think it's accepted by just about everyone (including Ofwat) that the current system of regulation isn't working, and the fact that we're suddenly seeing such a big price hike is evidence of this in itself. I share Matt's view that the investment needed should have been made gradually over a number of years. But we are where we are and I don't think we really have much choice but to catch up now.

Altior

mmmmikey said:

Thanks, I agree with much of what you are saying. I think it's accepted by just about everyone (including Ofwat) that the current system of regulation isn't working, and the fact that we're suddenly seeing such a big price hike is evidence of this in itself. I share Matt's view that the investment needed should have been made gradually over a number of years. But we are where we are and I don't think we really have much choice but to catch up now.

Unless there are actual repercussions and accountability for failure in state initiated activity, nothing will change. All that happens is stuff doesn't work and then we as consumers are tapped up for even more cash. 

This is from a defra publication from 2013, last updated in 2017.

It seems that they have failed in their primary duties as set out by the government. What is the price of failure?

Altior

The legislative framework The independent economic regulation of the water industry is essential to protect customers, facilitate efficient investment and enable growth. To support this, the government needs to set out a clear strategic context in which independent economic regulators, customers and investors can take informed decisions. The Water Act 2014 created new powers under which the Secretary of State may publish a statement setting out strategic priorities and objectives for Ofwat to reflect in the way it regulates.

Altior

Priority: Ofwat should challenge the water sector to plan, invest and operate to meet the needs of current and future customers, in a way which offers best value for money over the long term.  

The government’s strategic priorities and objectives for Ofwat

One could pick out quotes from this publication endlessly. It's not like we just arrived in 2025 and realised there are problems. It's beyond a joke to be honest, I'm not sure I'm in the possession of the necessary vocabulary. 

MattMattMattUK

Altior said:

Priority: Ofwat should challenge the water sector to plan, invest and operate to meet the needs of current and future customers, in a way which offers best value for money over the long term.  

The government’s strategic priorities and objectives for Ofwat

One could pick out quotes from this publication endlessly. It's not like we just arrived in 2025 and realised there are problems.

We have known for decades that we were kicking the can down the road and building up problems, but successive governments chose to direct Ofwat to keep prices down above everything else. Unfortunately that means we are not in the situation we are in and it will require a lot more money to bring things up to where they need to be than had it been done gradually over decades.

Altior said:

It's beyond a joke to be honest, I'm not sure I'm in the possession of the necessary vocabulary. 

Fairly easy, it is like everything else in this country, people take a very short term view so it is always about paying less now and letting someone else pay for it in decades to come, for water that decade is now here, for healthcare, education, roads, pensions etc. we are close. Either we all pay more and things can begin to get sorted, or we do not, things start to fail and most of us suffer whilst those with enough wealth can insulate themselves from the impact. 

MattMattMattUK

https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2025/aug/17/how-can-england-possibly-be-running-out-of-water