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Water bills in Wales are set to rise by 27% from April, with the average yearly bill increasing from £503 to £639. Welsh Water has embarked on a five-year plan that will see bills rise by 42% by 2029-2030, with the most significant rises taking place initially. According to a consumer group, there is an urgent need to change the method of supporting customers who struggle to pay their water bills.
Welsh Water has said that from April, clean drinking water will cost an average of £1.75 per day, and the rises will fund a 68% increase in investment over the next half-decade. Water companies across Wales and England are increasing bills, saying this will enable them to tackle sewer overflows and leaks.
Also, by April, Hafren Dyfrdwy, which services about 87,000 customers along the England-Wales border, will have increased bills by 32%, taking the average bill from £447 to £590. The company explained that its customers experience the lowest rates in Wales, and some of the most affordable charges in the UK, and the provider’s efforts aim to help customers who struggle with payments. Each firm has its own style of low-cost rates or capped tariffs called social tariffs, aimed at supporting eligible customers.
Welsh Water has said it is currently offering reduced bills to 150,000 customers and intends to increase financial support over the next five years from £63m to £73m. However, the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) has proposed a single system of support for all customers in England and Wales to end the “postcode lottery” of aid for struggling families. The CCW argues that the proposed scheme would have more funding for assistance, especially in Wales, where poverty rates are higher than in England.
Meanwhile, Welsh Water customer Bianca Lepore gets her water bill capped, which saves her approximately £280. The Cardiff-based NHS worker receives a cheaper bill under the WaterSure scheme because one of her children has a disability. Lepore said the reduced bill allowed her more worthwhile moments with her children. She urged anyone struggling to pay their water bills to reach out to Welsh Water
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