Thames Water is expected to appeal for permission to raise water bills by 53 per cent over the next five years, despite a three-day water outage which left residents across south east London forced to collect bottled water on foot.
The water company, which currently has £19 billion of debt, will ask the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to review the 35 percent increase between 2025 and 2030 approved last year by Ofwat, the water regulator, which it claims will not be enough to improve and invest in services.
If approved, bills for the 2025-26 year beginning in April would not be affected.
In a statement, the company said it had decided to challenge the price determination to “support the investment and improvement that is required for Thames Water to deliver for its customers, communities and the environment for the next five years.”
News of the potential billing increase comes after residents in Crystal Palace, Sydenham and surrounding areas were left without water for three days after a water pipe burst in Dulwich on Tuesday evening (February 11).
In a statement released today, Thames Water confirmed it had fixed the burst pipe, adding it was “working hard to flush and do our final checks to fully restore supplies to customers”.
The outage came as Ofwat announced on February 12 it would be investigating Thames Water after bosses admitted 100 environmental schemes funded by customers would not be completed on time.
We need to take back control of our water industry.
https://greenparty.org.uk/2024/07/02/green-party-calls-for-public-ownership-of-water-companies-following-landmark-supreme-court-ruling/
So, Thames Water – and other Water Companies – not only want Us to pay again, for work they have ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR … AND NOT DONE.
Additionally, to add insult to Criminal Injury, they want to increase already exorbitant Bill Demands by 53%.
NO, NO, NO.
This is an insult to Our Intelligence (By Thames, OFWAT & Gov.t) too many.
The Gov.t … no, don’t laugh; they are a Joke, Yes, but this is serious … should insist the Water Co.s Go Back To Their Investors, who’ve had, very generously, Our Money For Years, and demand it back.
NOT ANOTHER SINGLE PENNY FROM THE MUGS CONTINUALLY TAKEN FOR A RIDE, BY BOTH GOV.T & WATER Co.s
As my Old Nan used to say: “This Doll’s Done Dancing”.