Consumers Can Save On Water Bills By Shopping Around

While water bills don’t attract anywhere near the attention given to gas and electricity, the question of who should foot the bills for improving the nation's infrastructure has once again been brought into question.

Recently, the industry regulator Ofwat revealed that the ongoing need for investment will mean that water bills across the country are set to rise.

While utilities chiefs have so far played down the likely impact of such a move, consumer groups have warned that the average annual household bill for water and sewerage services will rise to £343.

Placed alongside soaring gas and electricity bills, this means that the typical household will have to fork out £1,595 for heating, lighting and water.

However, while consumers are able to cut their outgoings by switching utilities suppliers, when it comes to water bills, households are all in the same boat, with consumer groups arguing that this lack of choice means suppliers should pay for improving the cleanliness of supplies and the nation's infrastructure.

These sustained, above inflation rises are in danger of taking bills to unacceptable levels. There will be growing concern that many of the poorest families will not be able to afford bills on this scale.

Defending the calls the chief executive of Water UK, the trade body for the water industry, said: "Water customers tell us they want dependable services at affordable prices. The business plans meet these two priorities by finding a balance between continuing with vital investment and doing everything to hold prices down."

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting for the government to make water meters obligatory in UK households. According to the latest estimates, such meters would cut consumption, and therefore bills by as much as 35 per cent, similar to the potential benefits of other measures such as installing electricity meters and even switching utilities suppliers.

However, with water companies arguing that the current lack of credit is hitting them hard and therefore they should be entitled to raise bills, it looks like consumers should look to reduce their outgoings wherever possible and as soon as possible.

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