Water bills will rise from 2005

The rise for Wessex Water customers who receive both water and sewerage services has been agreed by the water regulator, Ofwat.

This will take the average annual bill from �277 to �322 by 2009/2010 - the largest increase in England and Wales.

Bristol Water customers, who pay for sewerage services from Wessex Water, will see an 11% rise over the period, taking the average annual bill to �120.

The majority of Bristol Water's increase will be felt in the first year - 2005/2006.

Wessex Water plans a 7.4% increase in this period.

The increases are not as large as the companies wanted, and we are pleased that the customers' voice has been heard Jenny Suggate WaterVoice

South West Water plans a 17% increase in bills, and Severn Trent 16%, between 2005 and 2010.

Wessex Water had wanted to increase bills by more than 30%, but was capped by Ofwat who said: "Customers should pay no more than is necessary for the companies to continue to deliver safe, reliable and efficient services."

Philip Fletcher, director general of water services at Ofwat, said: "I believe that these proposals are fair to customers, and to the companies.

"Although the average rise in bills for Wessex Water customers is more than the average for England and Wales as a whole, I am convinced after reviewing the company's business plan carefully that it is necessary.

Preferred plan

"The longer term picture is that customers of Wessex Water would, by 2009 be paying 9% more on average, before inflation, than in 1999."

The extra cash is being used by Wessex Water to update its treatment and sewerage plants; renovate water mains and safeguard against household sewer flooding.

Jenny Suggate, regional spokeswoman for the watchdog WaterVoice, told BBC News Online: "The increases are not as large as the companies wanted, and we are pleased that the customers' voice has been heard.

"But the increase is quite large and we are concerned about the effect on customers' budgets, especially pensioners and people on low income."

Wessex Water's chairman Colin Skellett said he was pleased with a "... lower average annual bill increase than previously expected, but disappointed that it was still higher than the company's preferred plan".

The company covers Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, most of Wiltshire and parts of Gloucestershire and Hampshire.