Thames Water plans 10% bill rise

Thames Water plans to raise bills by more than 10% above the cost of inflation over a five-year period.

Why water just got hot

Water is emerging as the new battle front in the struggle over the cost of living

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Thames Water fined

£13,600 bill for nine offences

The water company was fined £13,600 for nine offences earlier this year Credit: Thames Water

Westminster Magistrate’s Court fined Thames Water £13,600 following a guilty plea to nine offences in four locations earlier this year.

The prosecution is the latest in a series of successful prosecutions by Transport for London in its bid to reduce unnecessary roadworks and improve traffic flow.

How well is London's water being managed?

With the average Londoner using 167 litres of water each day managing London's water is a major challenge. The London Assembly's Environment Committee will discuss how this is achieved with Richard Aylard, External Affairs and Sustainability Director of Thames Water.

Also on the agenda will be longer-term water management plans, such as what steps are being taken to improve water efficiency in the capital's homes and businesses, and to manage rainwater drainage, including the Thames Tideway Tunnel.

Assembly Members will also question the company about its future plans, given that its proposal to increase bills for 2014/15 by about £29 on average has now been rejected by Ofwat.

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Thames Water rise is rejected

Water bills could still go up despite OFWAT rejection

  • Regulator, OFWAT says in order to justify a price rise, Thames Water has to provide evidence that higher costs warrant bill increases of £9 or more
  • OFWAT says the company's current application falls below this level this threshold, with evidence of a £7 increase in bills
  • But, it could still mean a bill increase of at least £9 next year if Thames Water submits sufficient fresh evidence to tip it over the threshold
Thames Water rise is rejected

Regulator slashes Thames Water's assessment of extra costs

In its draft ruling today OFWAT said:

  • It was unconvinced by the company's calculations on bad debts
  • OFWAT slashed Thames Water's assessment of £75 million of extra costs to just £13 million
  • The regulator will make its final ruling early next month

Thames Water says its biggest cost is the £273 million spent acquiring land for the Thames Tideway Tunnel. The company part of the proposed price rise is accounted for by increases in bad debt - when customers fail to pay their bills - due to the economic downturn.

Thames Water rise is rejected

Thames Water price rise is rejected by the regulator

Thames Water's attempt to add an extra £29 on customers' water bills next year has been rejected by the industry regulator, OFWAT.

OFWAT says it does not believe the figures justify an increase in bills
OFWAT says it does not believe the figures justify an increase in bills Credit: Press Association

Thames Water applied in August for a one-off price increase next year that would raise average bills by 8%. The company said the rise was necessary to pay for the costs of customers struggling to pay their bills, and the cost of a super sewer under London.

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'Super Sewer' plans slammed

Former head of water regulator attacks plans for 'Super Sewer'

Plans for a multi- billion pound super sewer for the capital, have been criticised by the former head of the water regulator. Sir Ian Byatt has questioned whether the city needs the Tideway Tunnel, and whether it will provide value for money.

If Thames Water gets planning permission to build the new sewer pipe, its customers will cover the cost with higher bills. Our Political Correspondent Simon Harris reports.

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