Found: The findings are based on a nationally representative online survey of 2,367 water bill payers in England

Found: region who we support with a whole host of support mechanisms to help them afford not just their water bill

Found: region who we support with a whole host of support mechanisms to help them afford not just their water bill

Found: it either a ‘constant struggle’ or a struggle from ‘time to time’ to keep up with paying their water bill

Found: the domestic rates in NI are used to fund domestic water provision, the NIFC added the average water bill

Found: England and Wales, in exactly the same financial circumstances, and one may get 90% off their water bill

Found: England and Wales, in exactly the same financial circumstances, and one may get 90% off their water bill

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that water bill increases provide value for money to consumers.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Ofwat published their final determinations for Price Review 2024 on 19 December, which sets company expenditure and customer bills for 2025-2030.This will deliver substantial, lasting, improvements for customers and the environment through a £104 billion upgrade for the water sector.

These bill rises equate to around £3 additional per month on average before inflation. This will pay to fix crumbling infrastructure, which will dramatically reduce sewage spills and lead to cleaner rivers, lakes and seas.

For too long, investment has not kept pace with the challenges of an ageing infrastructure system, a rapidly growing population and climate change. Whilst bills will therefore now need to rise to invest in our crumbling infrastructure and deliver cleaner waterways, we fully understand the financial pressures hardworking families are currently facing. We are pushing the sector to ensure support is available for vulnerable customers who are struggling to pay their bills.

The Government expects water companies to put robust support measures in place for customers to ensure that vulnerable customers across the country are supported and is working with industry to keep current support schemes under review to ensure that customers are sufficiently supported.

Furthermore, the Government expects companies to hold themselves accountable for their commitment to end Water Poverty by 2030 and will work with the sector to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to this end.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of water bill increases in the Thames Valley region on (a) consumers and (b) low income households.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Under the Conservatives, our sewage system crumbled. They irresponsibly let water companies divert customers’ money to line the pockets of their bosses and shareholders. The public are right to be angry after they have been left to pay the price of Conservative failure.

For too long, investment has not kept pace with the challenges of an ageing infrastructure system, a rapidly growing population and climate change. Whilst bills will therefore now need to rise to invest in our crumbling infrastructure and deliver cleaner waterways, we fully understand the financial pressures hardworking families are currently facing and are pushing the sector to ensure support is available for vulnerable customers who are struggling to pay their bills. The Government expects water companies to put robust support measures in place for customers to ensure that vulnerable customers across the country, including the Thames Valley, are supported.

Water companies have more than doubled the number of customers that will receive help with their bills through social tariffs, from 4% to 9% by 2030, and the Government is working with industry to keep current support schemes under review to ensure that customers are sufficiently supported.

Furthermore, the Government expects companies to hold themselves accountable for their commitment to end Water Poverty by 2030 and will work with the sector to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to this end.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the headline water bill for the 2024 price review period includes the cost of (a) direct procurement for customer and (b) specified infrastructure projects regulations schemes.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The development costs of funding Direct Procurement for Customer (DPC) schemes and Specified Infrastructure Project Regulations (SIPR) projects have been included in company business plans, as set out in Ofwat’s Major Projects Appendix. Funding is set out at individual project level and is identified as a DPC or SIPR (please see page 9). Almost all the schemes are funded via DPC and these account for £2.1 billion of development funding in PR24, and circa £50 billion whole life costs.

DPC is funded separately to enhancement expenditure. The capital costs of DPC will be spread over time and funded in addition to customer bill impacts forecast through the business plan submissions. DPC costs in the main will not occur in the next investment period (2025-2030), as DPC costs are passed through to customers once assets become operational.

Customer bills between 2025 and 2030 will include funding for the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme for United Utilities (delivered via DPC) and the Thames Tideway Tunnel (delivered via SIPR). Thames Water customer bills have included impacts from this scheme since 2015.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the current level of bad debt in the water sector and what plans they have to reduce that debt.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The occupier of a property has a legal responsibility to pay the water bill of that property. Water sector bad debt is money owed to water companies which customers are failing to pay off.

This Government expects all water companies to proactively engage with supporting their customers and to put robust support in place to help customers make payments on any outstanding debt.

Between 2019 and 2024 bad debt cost the sector £2.205 billion. Under Ofwat’s PR24 Final Determinations, companies have committed to contributing £197 million of funding to reduce the number of households in debt.

Found: Water Bill 2024-25

We want the Government to review regulation of water companies through Ofwat. We feel that Ofwat need stronger powers to stop any water bill hikes unless companies show service and environmental improvements.

Found: We feel that Ofwat need stronger powers to stop any water bill hikes unless companies show service and

Abolish National Insurance contributions & added-on taxes. Increase the number of tax bands, the first starting at 6.5% for incomes of £20000 & the top set at 49.5% for incomes over £2million. Increase the income tax personal allowance to consider the average rent, utilities and council tax.

Found: Average monthly rent is £1271 whilst yearly average utilities is £1800, water bill £445 & council tax

Water bills and council tax are being looked at to increase by more than 5% with most families already struggling. The councils waste money every year and water bill hikes are down to water companies lack of investing and paying shareholders instead of spending wisely

Found: The councils waste money every year and water bill hikes are down to water companies lack of investing

Found: Stop public bailout of the water industry (Water Bill Section 12-14) The Water (Special Measures) Bill

Found: It reflects the anger, frustration, but also hope of those who see the Water Bill as a vital opportunity

Found: The 2024 survey consisted of 4,952 telephone interviews with household water bill payers, which took

Found: In many cases they are also responsible for water bill payments.

Found: The Independent Water Commission must now drive systemic reform, leading to a stronger water bill later

Found: For example, her water bill had increased by £20 a month and her weekly food shop from £100 to £130.

Found: last couple of years (energy and utility bills, food, petrol/diesel, TV license, Council Tax, water bill

Found: good example of sharing costs to deliver shared outcomes between partners and value for money for water bill

Found: Five communications were tested, including a household water bill, a car insurance renewal, and a monthly

Found: to pay Paul and then paying Peter next but not Paul… I’ve fallen behind [on] my council tax and water bill

Found: A17 Warm Home Discount (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) A17 WaterSure and water bill

Found: the move to clean heating. 8 LOWER TAXES & CHARGES Scotland England Wales Average Household Water Bill

Found: Correspondence on a Water Bill: EIR release

Found: Correspondence on a Water Bill: EIR release

Found: According to the report, this would permanently add between £30 and £90 to a typical household water bill

Found: Our waste water bill is the second highest at £306 (Average £241) and this is linked to the fact that

Found: The body of the Bill is compatible with the aspirations of WG under their Water Bill.

Found: So, yes, the water Bill is a very good case in point there, where there's clearly read across here in

Found: social tariff for water and to make it easier for people experiencing hardship in paying their water bill

Found: delivering these plans, and if water companies do not deliver, the money should be returned to water bill

Found: One week’s (EMA) was like a month or a month and a half of my water bill (Care experienced focus group

Found: Economy Policy Officer38586.038625.02700.0HEO - Financial Inclusion Team38626.039929.02700.0Flood and Water Bill

Found: on how it was achieved) and between £50 and £140 to a typical HD household water bill.

Found: affordability for all customers and affordability for customers who are struggling to pay their water bill

Found: less water out of rivers and help wildlife Seems like the right thing to do To save money on my water bill

Found: 66 Consultation stage Memorandum of Understanding, Water Bill

Found: Help U HelpU is for low income households, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW) may lower the household water bill

Found: Volunteers could be offered deductions on their water bill for taking part.

Found: We are particularly concerned about the impact of water charges and the impact of rises in water bill

Found: Households are deemed to be in water poverty if they pay more than 3%53 of their income on their water bill

Found: addresses of tenants when they move and, that it was only fair that Landlords should pay the water bill

Found: should be amended to provide for a named customer and clarify who is responsible for paying the water bill

Found: Whilst we are keen to ensure that the wishes of water bill payers should be given a high priority within

Found: Written Statement - The Water Bill – Supplementary statement (16 January 2014)

Found: Written Statement - The Water Bill (16 October 2013)

Found: If the preferred option is agreed, the intention is to deliver it through the Water Bill, but setting

Found: We are consulting on measures to be included in the Water Bill, which is currently being prepared.Consultation

Found: examples below: 76• One mother explained that she wa s currently dealing with an incorrect water bill

Found: Schedule 11 to, the Government of Wales Act 2006. 9 House of Commons Standing Committee D on the Water Bill

Found: We note that the paper accompanying the Draft Water Bill published on 10 July confirms (in promote sustainable

Found: successfully for Working Tax Credit , and Carers Allowance for them as well as a reduction in their water bill

Found: “Having trouble with my water bill.” “Was in debt with welsh water but it has been paid off.”

Found: Once a customer has paid their water bill for six months, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water pays off 50% of their

Found: Draft Water Bill ...................................................................................

Found: pensioners will feel very frustrated by today’s speech, particularly with yet more council tax and water bill

Found: Water Bill ..........................................................................................