PN 09/03: Average water bills 2003-04 published
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PN 09/03

23 April 2003
AVERAGE WATER BILLS 2003-04 PUBLISHED

Households in England and Wales are seeing an average increase of 1% (excluding inflation) in their water and sewerage bills, Ofwat announced today.

For most customers their combined water and sewerage bills in 2003-04 will continue to be lower in real terms than they were at the last price review in 1999-2000, before Ofwat made an average 12% cut in bills.

Details of average bills for customers in 2003-2004 are set out in a leaflet published today by Ofwat.

Director General of Water Services Philip Fletcher said:

"I must allow water companies enough money to keep on providing high quality water services. But I will continue to make sure that customers do not have to pay any more than is necessary."

At 65p per household per day, the average daily cost of receiving water services works out at around the same price as a loaf of bread. And taking a hot bath costs more in electricity (19p) than in the water used (12p).

Note to Editors:
1. The Director General of Water Services is the economic regulator of the water and sewerage companies in England and Wales. He exercises his powers in a way that he judges will allow them to carry out their functions properly, and finance them.
2. Copies of Ofwat's leaflet 'Water and sewerage bills 2003-04', will be available from the Ofwat website at www.ofwat.gov.uk or from the Ofwat library on 0121 625 1373.
3. The average unmeasured household bill for water and sewerage services in 2003-04 will be £245 (2002-03: £235).
4. The average measured household bill for water and sewerage services in 2003-04 will be £209 (2002-03: £201).
5. Comparison of average household bills charged by water and sewerage companies for 1999-2000 and 2003-2004

Water and sewerage companiesAverage bill for
1999-2000		Average bill for 2003-2004(1)
Anglian Water Services Ltd
280
279
Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig
301
277
Northumbrian Water
242
206
Severn Trent water Ltd
227
212
South West Water Ltd
354
342
Southern Water Services Ltd
274
250
Thames Water Utilities Ltd
208
202
United Utilities Water plc
(previously North West Water)
245
244
Wessex Water Services Ltd
274
261
Yorkshire Water Services
242
227
(1) Level of bills are estimates based on forecast data provided by each company.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES TO OFWAT PRESS OFFICE ON: 0121 625 1416/1496/1442
Out of hours enquiries to pager: 08700 555 500 water 503/509. Ofwat publications and press notices can be found on Ofwat's website at: www.ofwat.gov.uk


Table 1: 2003-04 Average household bills for water
In April 2003, household customers will see an average increase in their water bills of 0.9% (excluding inflation).
Since privatisation in 1989, average household bills for water have increased by 21.0% (excluding inflation).
% change in bills(1)Average bill for (3)
COMPANY
1989-90 - 2003-04
2002-03 - 2003-04
2002-03
2003-04
(excluding
inflation) (2),(3)
(excluding
inflation) (2),(3)
(including
inflation) (3)
£
£
WATER AND SEWERAGE COMPANIES
Anglian Water Services Ltd
10.6
0.9
3.6
112
116
Dŵr Cymru Cyfyngedig
-1.5
-4.1
-1.5
124
122
Northumbrian Water Ltd:
- Northumbr'n Water
5.0
-0.2
2.4
88
90
- Essex & Suffolk Water
19.6
-0.9
1.7
111
113
Severn Trent Water Ltd
45.7
1.7
4.4
107
112
South West Water Ltd
18.9
3.2
5.9
114
121
Southern Water Services Ltd
10.9
-1.1
1.5
90
91
Thames Water Utilities Ltd
26.2
-1.3
1.3
105
106
United Utilities Water plc
40.5
4.9
7.7
109
118
Wessex Water Services Ltd
19.2
2.9
5.6
113
119
Yorkshire Water Services Ltd:
- Yorkshire Water Services
7.5
2.9
5.6
104
110
- York Waterworks
8.8
1.8
4.5
90
94
WATER ONLY COMPANIES
Bournemouth & W Hampshire Water plc
23.4
-0.8
1.8
100
102
Bristol Water plc
11.0
-0.3
2.3
105
107
Cambridge Water plc
5.0
-0.2
2.5
92
94
Dee Valley Water plc
-8.3
-1.6
1.0
105
106
Folkestone & Dover Water Services Ltd
49.1
2.5
5.2
129
135
Mid Kent Water plc
4.1
-1.0
1.6
126
128
Portsmouth Water plc
3.9
-0.8
1.9
75
76
South East Water plc
8.9
0.9
3.6
122
126
South Staffordshire Water plc
17.4
1.0
3.7
86
89
Sutton & East Surrey Water plc
11.2
-1.7
1.0
125
126
Tendring Hundred Water Services Ltd
60.6
5.6
8.4
141
153
Three Valleys Water plc:
Three Valleys Water
23.5
0.6
3.2
112
116
North Surrey Water
44.9
0.7
3.4
107
110
INDUSTRY AVERAGE
21.0
0.9
3.6
107
111
(1) Percentage changes between 2002-03 and 2003-04 are calculated from average bills expressed in pounds and pence.
(2) Percentage increases exclude the effect of inflation. Inflation, as measured by the Retail Price Index, increased by 62% between November 1988 and November 2002 and 2.65% between November 2001 and November 2002.
(3) Percentage changes and level of bills for 2002-03 and 2003-04 are estimates based on provisional and forecast data provided by each company.


Table 2: 2003-04 Average household bills for sewerage
In April 2003, household customers will see an average increase to their sewerage bills of 1.2% (excluding inflation).
Since privatisation in 1989, average household bills for sewerage have increased by 21.7% (excluding inflation).
% change in bills (3)Average bill for (2)
COMPANY1989-90 - 2003-04
2002-03 - 2003-04
2002-032003-04
(excluding inflation) (1),(2)
(excluding inflation) (1),(2)
(including inflation) (2)
£
£
WATER AND SEWERAGE COMPANIES
Anglian Water Services Ltd
9.5
1.9
4.6
156
163
Dŵr Cymru Cyfyngedig
33.1
0.0
2.7
151
155
Northumbrian Water Ltd
30.9
0.6
3.3
113
116
Severn Trent Water Ltd
4.7
2.3
5.0
96
101
South West Water Ltd
62.7
2.6
5.3
210
221
Southern Water Services Ltd
32.9
2.2
4.9
151
159
Thames Water Utilities Ltd
19.1
-1.4
1.2
94
95
United Utilities Water plc
32.3
1.1
3.7
122
127
Wessex Water Services Ltd
13.8
3.0
5.7
134
142
Yorkshire Water Services Ltd
21.0
1.8
4.5
112
117
INDUSTRY AVERAGE
21.7
1.2
3.8
121
125
(1) Percentage increases exclude the effect of inflation. Inflation, as measured by the Retail Price Index, increased by 62% between November 1988 and November 2002 and 2.65% between November 2001 and November 2002.
(2) Percentage changes and level of bills for 2002-03 and 2003-04 are estimates based on provisional and forecast dataprovided by each company.
(3) Percentage changes between 2002-03 and 2003-04 are calculated from average bills expressed in pounds and pence.


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