[Sussex] Southern Water Price Increase

HillBarnTillIDie · 2025-01-31T09:14:04+0000

Southern water is due to announce a 40% price increase in April.

For years the public has put up with this outfits terrible practices including water pollution, poor maintenance and a reduction in water quality.

I understand there is help for low income families who meet the criteria for support, but there shouldn’t need to be.

This company has taken liberties for far too long and by us paying a direct debit we make payment easier for them.

I propose that everyone cancels their direct debit, asks to receive a paper bill in the post and holds out to pay at the last minute (ideally by cheque in the post).

Any other ideas to help make a point to the water companies would be welcome.

Silver f Chariot · 2025-01-31T09:18:01+0000

HillBarnTillIDie said:
Southern water is due to announce a 40% price increase in April.

For years the public has put up with this outfits terrible practices including water pollution, poor maintenance and a reduction in water quality.

I understand there is help for low income families who meet the criteria for support, but there shouldn’t need to be.

This company has taken liberties for far too long and by us paying a direct debit we make payment easier for them.

I propose that everyone cancels their direct debit, asks to receive a paper bill in the post and holds out to pay at the last minute (ideally by cheque in the post).

Any other ideas to help make a point to the water companies would be welcome.

How much do you think it costs to run a water company? -

Don't get me wrong I do think things could be better, however the continual "whip up" frenzy the media make of the "Headline" stories are incredible...

I have no skin in this game at all, however I do think people have no real concept of "water" and take it for granted we can just "turn the tap on" and it arrives....

Since1982 · 2025-01-31T09:32:21+0000

Silver f Chariot said:
How much do you think it costs to run a water company? -

Don't get me wrong I do think things could be better, however the continual "whip up" frenzy the media make of the "Headline" stories are incredible...

I have no skin in this game at all, however I do think people have no real concept of "water" and take it for granted we can just "turn the tap on" and it arrives....

A bit patronising? I'm sure not meant to be so. I am sure there are many of us on here who do, or have in the past, worked in business and understand the issues around funding long term investment, providing good service now and managing down costs to the customer in a competitive market - its a balancing act. The issue many of us have with Southern Water (and other water companies) is that they have failed to invest in a safe and clean water system to the extent that our sea and river water is regularly polluted, they have prioritised shareholder return whilst running a monopoly business where the customer has no choice. The privatisation of water was an ideological disaster and companies like Southern Water have benefited at the expense of the customer. This latest price increase is capitulation by the regulator at the expense of the customer and its hugely disappointing that this govt is allowing it to happen.

wardy wonder land · 2025-01-31T09:34:40+0000

Silver f Chariot said:
How much do you think it costs to run a water company? -

Don't get me wrong I do think things could be better, however the continual "whip up" frenzy the media make of the "Headline" stories are incredible...

I have no skin in this game at all, however I do think people have no real concept of "water" and take it for granted we can just "turn the tap on" and it arrives....

but it seems to be easier / cheaper to run a water company in oter areas of the country.....

why can't i switch to yorkshire water and pay thier rates ? like i cam switch my elec and gas supply ?

no i am no commuinist, but water supply should be nationalised and the same price for all ?

LamieRobertson · 2025-01-31T09:37:11+0000

Silver f Chariot said:
How much do you think it costs to run a water company? -

Don't get me wrong I do think things could be better, however the continual "whip up" frenzy the media make of the "Headline" stories are incredible...

I have no skin in this game at all, however I do think people have no real concept of "water" and take it for granted we can just "turn the tap on" and it arrives....

so how much does it? …..and as we know it’s not all about turning a tap on..or flushing the toilet….but seriously you think that 40% plus is the result of a well run business and it’s all about a media frenzy …pffft

Silver f Chariot · 2025-01-31T09:40:31+0000

wardy wonder land said:
but it seems to be easier / cheaper to run a water company in oter areas of the country.....

why can't i switch to yorkshire water and pay thier rates ? like i cam switch my elec and gas supply ?

no i am no commuinist, but water supply should be nationalised and the same price for all ?

I agree with you about the switching part.. however I don't know the full logistics to be able to comment either way....

I can only assume its cheaper to run because some places have more water in some areas than others.. Water isn't same as Gas or electricity..

clapham_gull · 2025-01-31T09:44:16+0000

wardy wonder land said:
but it seems to be easier / cheaper to run a water company in oter areas of the country.....

why can't i switch to yorkshire water and pay thier rates ? like i cam switch my elec and gas supply ?

no i am no commuinist, but water supply should be nationalised and the same price for all ?

Customers of Southern Water unite, you have nothing to lose but your drains.

Mustafa II · 2025-01-31T09:47:14+0000

I believe a lot of the issues these water companies have are historic - decades of poor management and lack of investment.

The reality is that there needs to be massive investment over the next decade in order to reduce pollution to a 'satisfactory' level.

The big question is - where is the money going to come from? The answer is either the taxpayer, or the customer. Considering that the country is skint, I don't think now is a good time to renationalise. There is no guarantee that the performance would improve.

I do agree with the increase in water bills, as LONG as there is a demonstrated improvement in performance through investment over the next few years.

It's worth noting that Southern Water hasn't paid any dividends since 2017, and they have invested in a lot of large scale waste water infrastructure projects in recent years.

I also think it's a bit of an uphill battle for water companies - as they are battling against an ever increasing population, with increasingly old outdated sewer systems not fit for purpose.

I think it's also worth noting that although they are failing with waste water processing, the UKs drinking water is still amongst the safest in the world.

My view is that we should accept higher bills in exchange for greater investment - but with higher bills, we should be guaranteed in an improvement in environmental performance, as customers, over the next few years.

A1X · 2025-01-31T09:51:39+0000

Privatisation was designed to introduce competition and drive down prices. All we have in the water sector is a bunch of monopolies basically deciding how much money they want to print this year.

Time's up.

portlock seagull · 2025-01-31T09:51:42+0000

What if you just can’t afford? Seriously? Have we now reached a point where water in this country cannot be supplied to poorer families?

LamieRobertson · 2025-01-31T09:51:58+0000

Silver f Chariot said:
I agree with you about the switching part.. however I don't know the full logistics to be able to comment either way....

I can only assume its cheaper to run because some places have more water in some areas than others.. Water isn't same as Gas or electricity..

…..but then the majority of wind farms are in Scotland

LamieRobertson · 2025-01-31T09:53:04+0000

portlock seagull said:
What if you just can’t afford? Seriously? Have we now reached a point where water in this country cannot be supplied to poorer families?

Wait until your Council Tax bill hits the doormat next month

Silver f Chariot · 2025-01-31T09:57:23+0000

LamieRobertson said:
…..but then the majority of wind farms are in Scotland

I don't get your logic ?
I'm don't know the details at all however i would have thought it is easier to move electricity (or the parts needed to generate electricity) than it is to move Water

(I'm not trying to belittle you or anything in this response) Anything that moves cost money.. How do we move water from once place to another without cost?

Silver f Chariot · 2025-01-31T09:58:40+0000

A1X said:
Privatisation was designed to introduce competition and drive down prices. All we have in the water sector is a bunch of monopolies basically deciding how much money they want to print this year.

Time's up.

Was it?

Competition doesn't always drive down prices.. Cheaper is not always better... They are totally different models.

portlock seagull · 2025-01-31T09:58:50+0000

LamieRobertson said:
Wait until your Council Tax bill hits the doormat next month

This is what I mean. Rises of 20-30-40 even 100% on bills per annum are not uncommon these days. Collectively millions of us cannot afford. Meanwhile hundreds of thousands of people arrive here illegally needing all the same. What a mess we’re in.

A1X · 2025-01-31T10:01:59+0000

Silver f Chariot said:
Was it?

Competition doesn't always drive down prices.. Cheaper is not always better... They are totally different models.

Your desperation this morning to come out and bat for Southern Water in the face of the indefensible is admirable, have they promised you a discount on your bills if you do it?

Bodian · 2025-01-31T10:02:40+0000

Silver f Chariot said:
I don't get your logic ?
I'm don't know the details at all however i would have thought it is easier to move electricity (or the parts needed to generate electricity) than it is to move Water

(I'm not trying to belittle you or anything in this response) Anything that moves cost money.. How do we move water from once place to another without cost?

United Utilities seem to have little trouble in moving water from the Lake District to Manchester, and have been doing so for well over 100 years.

And yet....

Bodian · 2025-01-31T10:05:51+0000

Silver f Chariot said:
Was it?

Competition doesn't always drive down prices.. Cheaper is not always better... They are totally different models.

If not - then what was privatisation for??

beorhthelm · 2025-01-31T10:07:12+0000

anyone notice the reporting give the projected 5 year increase, as if it's going to happen immediately?

Harry Wilson's tackle · 2025-01-31T10:07:30+0000

One can understand service charges around need.

But water is not a service.
It is a business.
It is there to generate income for it's shareholders.
Profit.

The privatization of such utilities was immoral.
They need to be taken back into public ownership.

Then the people can decide whether they want good service or low bills by their vote.
Higher taxes and better service under Labour
Or lower taxes and shitter service under the Tories.

Except of course Labour "won't know how to run the business and the charges will go up as the service becomes shitter".
That was how the idea of the privatizations was sold to the voters in the first place.
Private ownership will make everything better.

Thatcher sold us a pup with the privatizations
The most immoral being the cut price sale of council houses.

Other more nuanced views are of course available.

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