“We’ve kept increases to a minimum,” says CMA as UK water bills rise

09 October 2025 , 14:15

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“We’ve kept increases to a minimum,” says CMA as UK water bills rise

Millions of Brits are expected to see an increase in their water bills of up to 5% in the coming months.

Five water companies have been provisionally allowed to raise their bills by between 1% and 5% more than previously permitted by regulator Ofwat, according to the competition watchdog.

Five companies – Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, South East Water, Southern Water, and Wessex Water – claimed that Ofwat’s original decision left them unable to meet the regulatory requirements set for them.

An independent group of experts appointed by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) stated that Anglian and Northumbrian should be allowed to increase their bills by an additional 1%, Southern by 3%, South East by 4%, and Wessex by 5%.

The CMA indicated a provisional decision allowing for 21%, or an additional £556 million in revenue, of the total £2.7 billion the five firms had requested.

Kirstin Baker, who chaired the independent group of experts appointed by the CMA to examine the price controls, said: “We’ve determined that water companies’ requests for significant bill increases, beyond those allowed by Ofwat, are largely unjustified.

“We understand the real pressure on household budgets and have worked to keep increases to a minimum, while still ensuring there is funding to deliver essential improvements at reasonable cost.”

David Wilson

Politics Editor