Water company United Utilities has confirmed it will raise water bills for its customers by 32% over the next five years, while increasing dividend payouts to shareholders.
United Utilities, which provides water to around seven million people across Greater Manchester and Liverpool, said they had agreed the bill increases which were negotiated with the regulator Ofwat in 2024.
The decision which was made by the regulator in December, means the typical bill payer across the UK will see their payments rise by an average of £86 this April.
The increases come amid high levels of sewage spills and underinvestment in pipes, sewers and reservoirs over the last 10 years.
United Utilities have said it needs to increase bills to pay for improvements to their infrastructure to reduce pollution incidents.
Despite this, the company said they will raise dividend payouts to shareholders this year so that they increase in line with inflation.
CEO of United Utilities, Louise Beardmore, said the rise in bills would raise £13 billion to invest in its infrastructure across the North West.
She said the total was the “largest investment in water and wastewater infrastructure in over 100 years”.
The water company had the option of appealing Ofwat’s decision on bills to the competition regulator, but the announcements on Wednesday 29 January signal it will not.
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