Water prices set to rocket

Its five-year draft business plans have just been published, showing it wants to impose huge price rises on consumers.

Water regulator Ofwat will decide whether to allow the increases or cap the extra charges.

Southern Water is proposing an average increase of 4.5 per cent above inflation every year of the five-year period.

At the moment, inflation is at 3.8 per cent and a rise on that would mean an overall increase to customers of 8.3 per cent each year. If inflation has risen by the time any increase is implemented, under its plans, householders would have to pay even more.

For full story and reaction, see West Sussex Gazette August 13