Water bills to rise by ‘eyewatering’ 8.8%

An 8.8% increase in household water bills has been attacked as ‘eye-watering’ by MSP Jackie Baillie.

And she attacked bonuses paid to Scottish Water bosses – and the chief executive’s £295,000 salary.

Scottish Water says the rise in charges, due to start on April 1, is necessary to protect water and waste services – bills will increase in the coming financial year by £35.95 for the average household.

MS Baillie, MSP for the Dumbarton constituency, said people were already facing a tough year with increases in food, fuel, rent and mortgage costs, amidst rising inflation.

 “This eye-watering increase will pile pressure on struggling families in my constituency,” she said.

“With everything from water charges to rail fares to income tax rising, the SNP’s rhetoric on the cost of living has been exposed as nothing but warm words.

“This increase represents yet another rise in costs that already hard-pushed households in Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven and Helensburgh and Lomond will require to fund from limited budgets.”

Scottish Water said that since 2010-11 average charges had reduced by 10.3% in real terms relative to CPI inflation, while significantly increased investment was needed in the next few years to deal with rapidly increasing climate change impacts, population shift and ageing infrastructure.

Chief executive Alex Plant added: “As a publicly-owned body, we have a clear responsibility to ensure what people pay is affordable and set at a fair level for both current and future generations.

“The board’s decision on charges for 24/25 recognises the need for significant investment to protect services now and for the future as climate change means that more volatile weather conditions are becoming the norm rather than the exception.

“Whilst increases in bills are never welcome, and we acknowledge that cost-of-living pressures remain, this 70p a week on average increase will set us on a pathway to recover ground lost over the past two years when charges were set at a level lower than allowed for under the regulatory settlement.

“These charges will help us continue to meet our customers’ expectations, enable investment for resilience, and strike a fair balance between what customers today are paying and what future generations will need to contribute.

“The Water Charges Reduction Scheme, and other discounts, exemptions and reliefs, which apply to around 50% of all households in Scotland, are in place to help customers who may struggle to pay.”