[Finance] Southern Water over 50% increase in bills

[dandanthebrightonfan]

Got a delightful surprise from southern water this morning
water bill from the 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026 £879.40 only a 52% increase from £584.40 this year!
For context
2 people 3 bed house no meter

Thank god I’ve got the football to look forward too

 

[Mr Bridger]

Smug here. Around 1/3 of household water use is via the toilets. Good job I fitted a rainwater harvesting h system at my house about 8 years ago then isn’t it.
At the time , people telling me it was a waste of money.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Got a delightful surprise from southern water this morning
water bill from the 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026 £879.40 only a 52% increase from £584.40 this year!
For context
2 people 3 bed house no meter

Thank god I’ve got the football to look forward too

Get a water meter asap. 2 people, 3 bed house £31 a month

For clarity - drinking water SE Water, waste -Southern Water.

 

[dandanthebrightonfan]

Get a water meter asap. 2 people, 3 bed house £31 a month

For clarity - drinking water SE Water, waste -Southern Water.

I have just applied for one.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Mine has gone up £200 pretty much all due to the standing charge. Water usage is one shower in the morning, one kettle and washing up for one. I use hardly any water at all. It's a joke.

 

[Mustafa II]

To be fair, water bills have been very cheap for a long time.

Unlike electric and heating - it's an easy thing to save on for most households (as long as you have a water meter).

But the water companies really need to prove that they're putting the extra money to good use over the next few years by demonstrating substantial improvements to their records of waste water spilling.

 

[dazzer6666]

Payments going from 43 to 58 per month. Two of us, pretty standard use.

 

[fly high]

To be fair, water bills have been very cheap for a long time.

Unlike electric and heating - it's an easy thing to save on for most households (as long as you have a water meter).

But the water companies really need to prove that they're putting the extra money to good use over the next few years by demonstrating substantial improvements to their records of waste water spilling.

When the majority of SE households had water meters compulsorily fitted I knew eventually prices would rise a lot. Too many customers saw their bills drop by at least half or more so they were supplying the more or less same amount of water for less income. Massive rise was always going to happen.

 

[nickbrighton]

In fairness to Southern Water, they at least haven't paid dividends since 2017

Whether they are investing enough, doing enough, overcharging etc is a different matter, and I simply don't know enough to comment

 

[chip]

In fairness to Southern Water, they at least haven't paid dividends since 2017

Whether they are investing enough, doing enough, overcharging etc is a different matter, and I simply don't know enough to comment

No, they are not even doing their job when they are pumping shit into chalk streams

 

[schmunk]

I haven't received a new letter yet, but we are CURRENTLY paying £110/month...

 

[dazzer6666]

No, they are not even doing their job when they are pumping shit into chalk streams

This. Multiple fines, terrible record.

 

[LamieRobertson]

I’m surprised the OP is surprised ..it’s been widely publicised and also mentioned on a NSC a few times ..of course that doesn’t make it any better

 

[Papak]

I’m surprised the OP is surprised ..it’s been widely publicised and also mentioned on a NSC a few times ..of course that doesn’t make it any better

I concur with this, you must have been living under a rock to not know that water companies are increasing prices.

I also do not understand why quoting the number of bedrooms is in any way relevant IF you are on a water meter, IT IS ALL ABOUT CONSUMPTION.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

I haven't received a new letter yet, but we are CURRENTLY paying £110/month...

Do you have a water meter? If not, get one.

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

Got a delightful surprise from southern water this morning
water bill from the 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026 £879.40 only a 52% increase from £584.40 this year!
For context
2 people 3 bed house no meter

Thank god I’ve got the football to look forward too

Ask for a meter, or request that they review it based on 2 person occupancy. Mine has jumped up by 25% to £57 a month but we have a meter. We went from a three person occupancy to two in January, so I suspect actual usage will be less than that. I think the rule of thumb is that if you the same or less people in your house than your number of bedrooms, then you may be better off with a meter.

 

[schmunk]

Do you have a water meter? If not, get one.

Yes I do, and a family of 6...

 

[1066familyman]

Yes I do, and a family of 6...

We're in exactly the same boat.

Five of us at home, but two daughters that use water like it's going out of fashion, so effectively seven of us. Scary bills all round.

 

[Mr Bridger]

If you’re on a meter you can usually get your local water company to visit and fit free water saving devices. I use to do it for Anglian Water when fitting internal water meters.

Water-Saving Home Visits - Southern Water

Find more information about what to expect from one of our water-saving home visits.

www.southernwater.co.uk

If you are not eligible you can get cheap water saving devices yourself from Amazon (obviously via Bozza’s link) such as tap restrictors, Shower restrictors etc.

Fit one of these if you have a power shower (not electric) and you have kids who spend over half in the shower, will save you £10000’s
Shower flow reducer

 

[A mex eyecan]

I haven't received a new letter yet, but we are CURRENTLY paying £110/month...

Flipping heck, how big is your swimming pool and how often are you changing the water?