Southern Water are this week advising customers of a price rise of 5.3% in the average water bill. Ed
Southern Water’s average bill for 2013-14 will be £449 – helping pay for a £1.8 billion programme of service and environmental improvements, boosting the local economy and supporting thousands of jobs.
The average household water and sewerage bill in England and Wales is forecast to increase by 3.5%, making the rise on the Isle of Wight 1.8% higher, that’s 50%.
This average bill for customers receiving both water and wastewater services has increased by £23 – approximately £1.90 per month – or 5.3 per cent compared with last year.
The company’s bills not only cover the day-to-day running costs of supplying drinking water and taking away and treating wastewater, but also contribute to a major capital improvement programme which is taking place from 2010 to 2015.
What’s being improved?
The programme includes the replacement of hundreds of kilometres of water mains and sewers, along with schemes to help prevent flooding, safeguard water supplies, reduce leakage, improve water quality and enhance wastewater treatment.
Southern Water’s Chief Customer Officer Darren Bentham said: “By ensuring investment in our communities we are able to support thousands of jobs, while delivering improved services and a wide range of environmental improvements such as cleaner rivers and seas.
“Our five-year spending programme includes more than 330 environmental projects – that’s more than any other water company and makes up a large part of our investment. These projects are in response to new European legislation and will have many environmental benefits.
“However, it’s a fine balance – while our charges must rise to meet the enormous cost of our investment, we have a duty to our customers to keep our increases to a minimum.”
Supporting employment
Southern Water employs more than 2,000 staff, including 50 apprentices and 260 people in our two Sussex-based call centres. Additionally, the company indirectly supports about 2,900 jobs through its capital investment programme.
Between 2010 and 2015, Southern Water is also installing more than 500,000 water meters for customers as part of its 25-year plan to manage resources in the South East. Customers who have a water meter installed tend to use ten per cent less water. As a result, the average 2013/14 water bill for customers who have a meter is £430 – £54 lower than for those who are not metered (average £484).
Improvements on the Isle of Wight
In 2013/14, Southern Water say they will continue major schemes on the Island including:
- More than £1 million to replace a 500-metre sewer under the River Medina in Cowes, Isle of Wight.
- £700,000 to install a Combined Heat and Power plant at Sandown Wastewater Treatment Works on the Isle of Wight to generate electricity from bio-gas created during the treatment process.
- Replacing about 3.5km of water main on the Island in 2013/14.
Southern Water fully appreciates some customers may have difficulty paying their water bill. Our website explains the schemes we can offer, including payment plans, special tariffs, benefits advice and charitable grants, which may help. Customers can also call our dedicated debt advice centre on 0800 027 0363.
Image: Jenn Durfey under CC BY 2.0
