The industry regulator Ofwat has confirmed that water bills across England and Wales will rise significantly in the coming years. The average household bill is expected to increase by 36% by 2030. However, the amount that individual billpayers will face depends on their location and which water company provides their supply.
The price hikes, although lower than some of the increases water companies initially requested, will still significantly impact households. Below is a breakdown of the current and projected average annual water bills for various water companies by 2030:
Projected Water Bill Increases by Company
- Anglian Water
- Current: £491
- By 2030: £631
- Increase: 29% (£140)
- Requested by Company: £649 (32% increase)
- Dwr Cymru (Welsh Water)
- Current: £455
- By 2030: £645
- Increase: 42% (£190)
- Requested by Company: £660 (45% increase)
- Hafren Dyfrdwy
- Current: £392
- By 2030: £577
- Increase: 42% (£165)
- Requested by Company: £629 (61% increase)
- Northumbrian Water
- Current: £422
- By 2030: £510
- Increase: 21% (£88)
- Requested by Company: £524 (24% increase)
- Severn Trent Water
- Current: £398
- By 2030: £583
- Increase: 47% (£185)
- Requested by Company: £612 (54% increase)
- Southern Water
- Current: £420
- By 2030: £642
- Increase: 53% (£222)
- Requested by Company: £768 (83% increase)
- South West Water
- Current: £497
- By 2030: £610
- Increase: 23% (£113)
- Requested by Company: £624 (26% increase)
- Thames Water
- Current: £436
- By 2030: £588
- Increase: 35% (£152)
- Requested by Company: £667 (53% increase)
- United Utilities
- Current: £442
- By 2030: £585
- Increase: 32% (£143)
- Requested by Company: £603 (36% increase)
- Wessex Water
- Current: £508
- By 2030: £614
- Increase: 21% (£106)
- Requested by Company: £658 (30% increase)
- Yorkshire Water
- Current: £430
- By 2030: £607
- Increase: 41% (£177)
- Requested by Company: £627 (46% increase)
Key Takeaways:
- Average increase across all water companies is 36% by 2030.
- The largest increase is seen in Southern Water, where bills will rise by 53% (an additional £222).
- Severn Trent and Yorkshire Water will also see substantial rises of 47% and 41%, respectively.
- While water companies requested even higher increases, Ofwat has set lower figures, with most companies getting slightly less than what they had initially asked for.
The hikes will place additional financial pressure on households, especially in areas with higher-than-average increases. The cost of water bills is expected to be a growing concern for consumers across England and Wales as companies implement these changes to fund infrastructure upgrades, service improvements, and environmental initiatives.