Anglian Water is pushing for the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to approve higher customer bills than regulator Ofwat has allowed for the next five years. The company argues that Ofwat’s restrictions threaten long-term investment and resilience in the region’s water infrastructure.
The water provider initially proposed a 32% bill increase, raising the average household charge from £491 to £649 by 2030. However, in December, Ofwat approved only a 29% rise, capping bills at £631 over the period.
CEO Mark Thurston emphasised the need for increased investment, particularly in the East of England, where rapid urban growth demands significant infrastructure upgrades. He pointed out that Anglian Water’s £11 billion business plan was developed in collaboration with customers and stakeholders. It includes one of the lowest bill increases compared to the scale of investment and a strong customer support package.
Anglian Water serves seven million people and is developing two major reservoirs in the Fens and Lincolnshire to enhance water supply resilience. Additionally, it plans to renew 1,000km of water mains to improve service reliability.
Despite these investments, the company’s push for higher bills has sparked public outrage. Many customers and environmental campaigners argue that water companies should not be rewarded with price hikes, especially given their history of pollution incidents.
South Cambridgeshire MP Pippa Heylings criticised the bill increases, calling them “insulting” to customers, particularly in light of Anglian Water’s environmental track record.
The CMA’s decision will be closely watched, as it could set a precedent for future water bill regulations and investment policies in the UK.
