Shock rise in water bills

Water companies have been accused of short-changing customers after announcing inflation-busting rises.

The increases have added to fears that many on lower incomes are struggling to afford the high cost of living in the county.

Water bills are to rise by 19.25 per cent in some parts of the county from April.

The increase for customers of South East Water will be the second biggest rise by any water company across England and Wales.

It will take the average water bill from £129 in 2004/5 to £154 in 2005/6.

The charge will hit customers in East Sussex from Bexhill to Peacehaven and northwards to Haywards Heath and East Grinstead.

Residents of West Sussex and Brighton and Hove will face a 16 per cent rise by Southern Water, taking average bills from £259 this year to £300.44 in 2005/6. The figure is higher because it includes charges for sewage.

The average increase across England and Wales this year is 13 per cent.

Soaring charges were announced just weeks after The Argus reported council tax bills will rocket under plans to bring the system up to date and in line with the true cost of homes. A survey using figures by the Halifax revealed many would have to pay hundreds of pounds a year more when their homes are revalued as part of an overhaul being considered later this year.

Electricity company EDF Energy has also told thousands of its customers their bills will go up for the third time in ten months.

The combined expense of paying high bills and tax in Sussex has raised fears about some people's ability to pay.

A spokeswoman for the union Unison said: "We know there are enormous problems because of the high cost of living in the South-East and Brighton. Housing costs, transport costs and all of those issues make it very difficult for low paid workers to live and work close by."

Eastbourne MP Nigel Waterson said: "I know it will be a major blow to many pensioners in my constituency who dread a utilities bill or a council tax demand landing on their doormat.

"People on fixed incomes simply aren't in a position to pay these kinds of rises."

The only householders in the country to face higher water charges than South East Water customers are those in Bournemouth and west Hampshire, where people face the biggest rise of 19.3 per cent.

The lowest rises are in Clacton, Essex, where customers have escaped with a below-inflation increase of 1.6 per cent.

South East Water and Southern Water say the sharp rises are necessary because they have planned major improvement programmes.

The cost cannot be spread over a longer period, they say, because the money is needed immediately for schemes such as a desalination plant and extra piping.

Des Turner, MP for Brighton Kemp Town, said: "I have a great deal of sympathy with the customer. I feel the customer is being short-changed.

"I am not at all happy with the degree of rigour the regulators are showing in controlling these companies at the moment.

"Most of their water resources are from chalk aquifers, which are pretty easy and cheap.

"I can't see the justification for those price rises at all, especially looking at the financial records of those companies which consistently show a high level of revenue to their shareholders."

Lewes MP Norman Baker said: "The bills people are receiving are going up well above inflation. They have told us we are better off but people don't necessarily feel it."

Paul Bower, a father-of-two who lives in Seaford, will see his £500 family water bill go up by almost £100.

The civil engineer, who is also a Seaford town councillor, said: "Average earnings are going up by 3.5 per cent a year. This is way in excess of that."

The increases have been approved by water industry regulator Ofwat, to which every water company has had to submit a five-year plan and agree its price levels to 2010.