Water bills to increase for Basingstoke residents (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Water bills to increase for Basingstoke residents

2:30pm Wednesday 6th February 2013 in News By Emily Roberts, Chief Reporter

SOUTH East Water has announced that the average bill from April 1, 2013, will increase by £6 per year.

The company, which provides water to Basingstoke households, has increased its charges from £195 a year for the average domestic bill, to £201 – the equivalent of 2p per day. This three per cent rise is lower than the national average of 3.5 per cent in England and Wales.

The charges are based on historical tariffs agreed with the industry regulator Ofwat.

The increase in water bills will help fund £91 million of investment during the year to improve the network of pipes, pumping stations and treatment works, as well as develop new water resources to help maintain drinking water supplies and protect them for the region’s growing population.

Steve George, customer service director, said: “We believe that an average cost for drinking water of just 55p per day remains excellent value for money, but we do appreciate that some of our customers may be experiencing financial difficulties and so we have measures in place to help those customers facing real hardship.”

Thames Water has announced the biggest rise in water and sewage bills of 5.5 per cent, increasing the annual average bill by £18 to £354.

Southern Water has announced an increase of 5.3 per cent for its water and wastewater services, raising the cost of the average bill by £23 to £449.