Water Rates To Go Up This Summer

This summer at least three water suppliers have confirmed that they will be increasing water tarrifs in an attempt to curb a seasonal increase in water usage. Water companies have predicted that there might be water shortages this summer and hence have thought of 'creative' methods of using tarrifs to decrease overal water usage.

Southern Water customers in Kent and Hampshire will definitely be paying these new tarrifs which will be in place between June and September. The firm insisted that the average yearly water bill (which is currently GBP373) will not increase over the course of a year, as they have said that they will decrease water tarifs between October and March (where we seasonally use less water).

A Southern Water spokesman said: 'The tariff is not designed to penalise customers.
'Because the winter tariff goes down slightly, the charges should even themselves out if water use remains steady.'
Spokeswoman Karen Gibbs said: 'We will be watching this very closely. It could benefit some people but others could end up paying more.'
Only homes with new automated reading water meters will be charged the seasonal tariff. The new summer rate, which applies only to water charges, and not waste water, will be 99.9p per cubic metre, while in winter the rate will drop to 92.2p.
Homes without the new meters will continue to pay the flat rate of 94p per cubic metre throughout the year.
The plan has the support of the Environment Agency, which has pressured Southern Water to drastically cut how much water it takes from the River Itchen in Hampshire.
Water regulator OFWAT said it approved the new charges because of the chronic water shortage in the south.
An OFWAT spokesman said: 'We encourage companies to consider innovative tariffs when looking for solutions to water resource issues in their area.
'Seasonal tariffs provide incentives to reduce discretionary water use at peak times.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1253951/Householders-set-pay-water-summer.html#ixzz0gdiu8ZVh

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