Water customers braced as bills to soar by 8% (From The Argus)
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Water customers braced as bills to soar by 8%
3:30pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Business News By John Keenan, business editor
Householders are facing an inflation-busting hike in water bills.
Southern Water will increase its bills by 8.2% – more than any other utility provider.
Customers’ yearly bills will be increased by an average of £31 to £416 from April.
A spokeswoman for Southern Water said the charges are in line with the inflation figure in November (5.2%) plus another 3%.
The increase is the latest in a string of above-inflation rises from Southern Water.
In 2007/08 bills increased 3.5% over inflation, in 2008/09 by 5.8% more, and last year by inflation plus 2.6%.
A spokeswoman said as well as contributing to day-to-day operations, the above-inflation increase funds service improvements for customers.
She said: “Between 2010 and 2015 these will total £1.8 billion across the south-east.
“This ensures our customers receive drinking water that is among the best in Europe, helps waste water treatment works to meet stringent environmental standards and also safeguards water supplies.”
The firm made a profit of £32 million in the year ending March 31, 2011.
They paid £77 million in dividends to shareholders, resulting in a loss for the financial year of £45.1 million.
Chief executive officer Matthew Wright was appointed in March last year from United Utilities, where he was managing director.
The spokeswoman said: “Ordinary share dividends of |£77.1 million were paid to shareholders during 2010/11. This consisted of a final dividend of |£35 million relating to 2009/10, and an interim dividend of £42.1 million for 2010/11.
"The directors have not declared a final dividend for 2010/11. Southern Water is a private limited company, therefore the salaries of all staff are confidential.”
Southern Water is installing 500,000 water meters in the south-east.
"It says customers who have a water meter installed use 10% less water. The average 2012-13 water bill for Southern Water customers who have a meter and pay for what they use is £57 less than for those who are not metered – £391 compared with £448. Since 2010, the metering programme in Sussex has visited Horsham, Littlehampton and the surrounding area, and Crawley.
"It has started meter installations in the western part of Worthing, and will move across the rest of Worthing borough and Adur district this year.
"South East Water said its average household bill will rise by 4.6% to £204. The firm has around 250,000 customers in Sussex.
"A spokeswoman said: “Everything we buy or source is more costly too.”
Comments(15)
midSussex
says...
4:19pm Wed 1 Feb 12
Carlas mum
says...
4:24pm Wed 1 Feb 12
m4mt7ah
says...
4:27pm Wed 1 Feb 12
a person
says...
4:40pm Wed 1 Feb 12
The thing is if you move near to a sewage works you will have a smell of sewage in the air.
The sewage works was there before the houses were built.
That is the reason why the homes around the East Worthing treatment works are usually lower in price than other areas that are not around the East Worthing treatment works .
Fight Back
says...
4:48pm Wed 1 Feb 12
a person wrote:Thank you for your contribution - not sure what it adds though !
The same as if you live near an airport you will hear planes.
The thing is if you move near to a sewage works you will have a smell of sewage in the air.
The sewage works was there before the houses were built.
That is the reason why the homes around the East Worthing treatment works are usually lower in price than other areas that are not around the East Worthing treatment works .
monkeymoo
says...
5:09pm Wed 1 Feb 12
As for "finest drinking water in Europe" have they ever been to Europe? Most of the water runs through filters straight from the mountain springs...NO CHLORINE OR FLORIDE ADDED!!
a person
says...
6:24pm Wed 1 Feb 12
Fight Back wrote:It is in reply to Carlas mum
a person wrote:Thank you for your contribution - not sure what it adds though !
The same as if you live near an airport you will hear planes.
The thing is if you move near to a sewage works you will have a smell of sewage in the air.
The sewage works was there before the houses were built.
That is the reason why the homes around the East Worthing treatment works are usually lower in price than other areas that are not around the East Worthing treatment works .
Saying about the smell coming from the sewage works ..
So I assume they chose to live near the sewage works.
a person
says...
6:25pm Wed 1 Feb 12
monkeymoo wrote:There is no fluoride added to the water in this area .
I suppose someone had to pay the massive fine Southern Water received recently....shame its the customers!
As for "finest drinking water in Europe" have they ever been to Europe? Most of the water runs through filters straight from the mountain springs...NO CHLORINE OR FLORIDE ADDED!!
The government want it added but so far southern water have not done it.
Brighton_Belle
says...
6:57pm Wed 1 Feb 12
Any danger of them using that money to repair leaks and improve customer service?
I hate not having a choice of supplier.
a person
says...
7:42pm Wed 1 Feb 12
Brighton_Belle wrote:I think they have been reading up on how to boost employee morale,
Brilliant. It was cheaper when I wasn't on a meter.
Any danger of them using that money to repair leaks and improve customer service?
I hate not having a choice of supplier.
I heard they have cut the staffs pay , have a longer working day ,
so now only get single time for overtime .
If that doesn’t improve morale and customer service ,I think they might have got it wrong.
D Merrett
says...
8:48pm Wed 1 Feb 12
angrymonkey
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9:59pm Wed 1 Feb 12
AngelicDevil
says...
10:49am Thu 2 Feb 12
Bring it on!
plantwoman
says...
11:46am Thu 2 Feb 12
Fight Back says...
4:07pm Wed 1 Feb 12
So we have Southern Water hiking charges, huge increases late last year in gas and electricity, petrol at it's highest cost for many a year and yet the Greens STILL want to increase the burden on people by increasing council tax, charges for parking permits and other services ???? They clearly don't live in the real world.