This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7552564.stm
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Planned water bill rises unveiled | Planned water bill rises unveiled |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Water companies in England and Wales are set to reveal proposed increases to water bills for a five-year period. | Water companies in England and Wales are set to reveal proposed increases to water bills for a five-year period. |
| The firms must submit their spending and pricing plans from 2010 to the industry regulator Ofwat on Monday. | The firms must submit their spending and pricing plans from 2010 to the industry regulator Ofwat on Monday. |
| The watchdog will decide whether to allow above-inflation price rises at a time when other bills have gone up. | The watchdog will decide whether to allow above-inflation price rises at a time when other bills have gone up. |
| Thames Water has already announced it expects bills to rise by about 3% above inflation a year, and Northumbrian Water said its would be 1.3% above. | Thames Water has already announced it expects bills to rise by about 3% above inflation a year, and Northumbrian Water said its would be 1.3% above. |
| Customer concerns | Customer concerns |
| Ofwat chief executive Regina Finn said: "This is the start of the process of making decisions on how each company proposes to provide value-for-money, long-term, high-quality water services to its customers. | Ofwat chief executive Regina Finn said: "This is the start of the process of making decisions on how each company proposes to provide value-for-money, long-term, high-quality water services to its customers. |
| "We will now examine draft business plans in detail, checking the proposed level of service and investment. | "We will now examine draft business plans in detail, checking the proposed level of service and investment. |
| There will be an inevitable impact on bills, but even so, we will be able to keep them below the industry average David OwensThames Water chief executive | There will be an inevitable impact on bills, but even so, we will be able to keep them below the industry average David OwensThames Water chief executive |
| "We will make sure each plan includes everything we expect, takes account of concerns expressed by customers, and does so as efficiently as possible." | "We will make sure each plan includes everything we expect, takes account of concerns expressed by customers, and does so as efficiently as possible." |
| Each water company is expected to put a summary of its draft business plan on its website. | Each water company is expected to put a summary of its draft business plan on its website. |
| Ofwat is due to make its final decision by November 2009. | Ofwat is due to make its final decision by November 2009. |
| Thames Water, the UK's biggest water company, said its £6.5bn investment plan would be the largest spending programme carried out by a UK water company. | |
| The company's chief executive David Owens said: "Thames' customers have enjoyed the lowest bills in the industry for many years, but we now need to make essential investment to secure their services for the future. | The company's chief executive David Owens said: "Thames' customers have enjoyed the lowest bills in the industry for many years, but we now need to make essential investment to secure their services for the future. |
| "This is particularly true for London, where the water and sewerage infrastructure is ageing. | "This is particularly true for London, where the water and sewerage infrastructure is ageing. |
| "There will be an inevitable impact on bills, but even so, we will be able to keep them below the industry average." | "There will be an inevitable impact on bills, but even so, we will be able to keep them below the industry average." |
| Household bills | Household bills |
| While most companies are likely to ask for above-inflation increases, they are unlikely to be anything like as high as recent gas and electricity price rises. | While most companies are likely to ask for above-inflation increases, they are unlikely to be anything like as high as recent gas and electricity price rises. |
| However, consumers do not have a choice who they get their water from. | However, consumers do not have a choice who they get their water from. |
| Ofwat said in February that average bills across England and Wales would rise by 5.8% this year, with increases of 8% in some areas. | Ofwat said in February that average bills across England and Wales would rise by 5.8% this year, with increases of 8% in some areas. |
| The regulator has said increases in bills are projected to be 42% in real terms by 2010 since the privatisation of the water industry in England and Wales in 1989. | The regulator has said increases in bills are projected to be 42% in real terms by 2010 since the privatisation of the water industry in England and Wales in 1989. |