[Finance] Southern Water over 50% increase in bills

[alanfp]

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.

The OP said he doesn't have a meter. so in his case IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT CONSUMPTION. It's based on the historical RV so the size of the house is relevant. The accepted rule of thumb is if there are fewer occupants than bedrooms then you should save money having a water meter (Money Saving Expert).

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

They were until 1989. Since then they have perhaps been reasonable value, but nevertheless more than they coulda/shoulda been, due to the fact that a significant proportion of your bill (typically 15-20%) has been given to shareholders.
Not to mention companies like Thames Water Utilities Cayman Finance Ltd. and why they were formed!

 

[Eeyore]

The OP said he doesn't have a meter. so in his case IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT CONSUMPTION. It's based on the historical RV so the size of the house is relevant. The accepted rule of thumb is if there are fewer occupants than bedrooms then you should save money having a water meter (Money Saving Expert).


They were until 1989. Since then they have perhaps been reasonable value, but nevertheless more than they coulda/shoulda been, due to the fact that a significant proportion of your bill (typically 15-20%) has been given to shareholders.
Not to mention companies like Thames Water Utilities Cayman Finance Ltd. and why they were formed!

Apart from telecommunications, I can't think of a public service that was justified in going private. If there is no choice for the customer it will always end badly.

I wouldn't re-nationalise the railways out of choice though. But it would take an essay to explain.

 

[Since1982]

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

They wanted to in 2024 and managed to pay out £2.3bn before 2017.

 

[Papak]

The OP said he doesn't have a meter. so in his case IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT CONSUMPTION. It's based on the historical RV so the size of the house is relevant. The accepted rule of thumb is if there are fewer occupants than bedrooms then you should save money having a water meter (Money Saving Expert).


They were until 1989. Since then they have perhaps been reasonable value, but nevertheless more than they coulda/shoulda been, due to the fact that a significant proportion of your bill (typically 15-20%) has been given to shareholders.
Not to mention companies like Thames Water Utilities Cayman Finance Ltd. and why they were formed!

I did not quote the OP, check my post again.

Admittedly, I should have put a caveat in mine as I had an inkling somebody would jump to a conclusion and I was right.

 

[medwayseagull reborn]

I moved to a meter years ago realising how much cheaper it would be for two adults on a band E council tax and have saved a lot of money in that time. Just increased my payment to £33 per month.

 

[BN9 BHA]

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.

Money down the drain

 

[Mr Bridger]

Money down the drain

It was at the time, but who’s laughing now..

 

[rippleman]

You can't really blame any business for trying to exploit their customers. Most would if they could but in nearly all sectors competition is there to prevent it. However, where you have a monopoly there is no barrier to exploitative price increases. This is why we have a "regulator" OFWAT.

However, much like OFGEN and the energy companies, the organisation which is supposed to protect consumers is in fact colluding with the water companies when they are punishing their customers for their own financial mismanagement.

Nothing will change all the time the government allows the regulators to be acting in the best interests of these rip-off monopolies and giving the finger to consumers.

The boss of Southern Water was given £183K BONUS last year as part of his £750K pay package. For running a business that is skint and delivering an appalling service. So when you pay your increased water bills, remember where that increase is going.