FREEZE ON SCOTTISH WATER BILLS FOR 2010-2011

[Kintyre Forum News]

FREEZE ON SCOTTISH WATER BILLS FOR 2010-2011

Household water and waste water bills in Scotland for 2010/2011 will be frozen.

Bills coming through letter boxes in the next few months which will come into effect in April 2010 will be frozen. The Final Determination from the Water Industry Commission for 2010-2015 proposes that customer charges will be frozen for at least one year and decrease in real terms over the next five years while customer service improves further.

The average water bill for households across Scotland in 2009/10 will continue to be around £324.

The average household charge is expected to continue to be less than the average household bill in England and Wales and lower than the average in seven of the companies south of the border. The charges in England and Wales have not yet been set.

(figures shown below show Water charge first, Waste Water Charge then combined charge)

Council
Tax Band

Band A £122.34 - Water
£140.04 - Waste Water
£262.38 - Combined

Band B £142.73
£163.38
£306.11

Band C £163.12
£186.72
£349.84

Band D £183.51
£210.06
£393.57

Band E £224.29
£256.74
£481.03

Band F £265.07
£303.42
£568.49

Band G £305.85
£350.10
£655.95

Band H £367.02
£420.12
£787.14

This freeze, which will come into effect in April, follows four years running that Scottish Water has kept charges for household customers flat.

The average household bill in Scotland is lower than the average household bill in England and Wales and lower than the average household bill in seven of the companies south of the border. It is also considerably lower than other utility charges.

This signals continued stability in water and waste water bills at the same time as Scottish Water is delivering the largest investment programme per household in the UK.

Richard Ackroyd, chief executive, said: “Increasingly our customers are seeing value in the charges they pay and the improved service they receive. Our drinking water is the best it has ever been, the environment is greener, leakage is being tackled and service is being improved.

“We believe these charges are a fair deal for our customers in these difficult economic conditions.

“These charges are helping to pay for the current £2.5 billion investment programme which is delivering the investment that Scotland needs in its water infrastructure while providing thousands of construction jobs. Millions of people are turning on their taps to clearer, fresher drinking water, a cleaner environment and improved customer service as a result.

“We are working hard to ensure that in the next five years charges remain steady while we continue to deliver vital investment.”