Anglian Water price hike will 'improve water systems and delivery'
Bills are today set to rise by an average of £1.72 per day per household
Anglian Water customers will see a 19% rise in their water bills this year as the company launches on its largest investment programme to date, totalling £11 billion over the next five years.
The increase will bring average daily water costs to £1.72 per household.
We spoke to Regan Harris from Anglian Water who explained: "We're kicking off today our next five-year investment programme, which is our biggest ever. In fact, it's almost double that of the previous five years."
The investment aims to tackle various challenges, including climate change and a projected population growth of 720,000 people in the East of England by 2043.
Ms Harris said the increase is a necessity, adding: "The investment we need to make is so, so massive for the region that unfortunately we have had to put bills up this year."
The £11 billion investment will be allocated to a range of infrastructure projects designed to enhance water resilience and combat environmental challenges.
One key area of focus is reducing storm overflow spills.
"We are investing about a billion pounds of that £11 billion into tackling that problem, and that is going into things like increasing the capacity at our water recycling centres so it can hold rainwater and then let it be treated properly before it's returned to the environment."
Other initiatives include the installation of 50,000 sewer monitors to detect blockages and a new water grid that will transport water from wetter northern areas to drier regions such as Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex.
Additionally, 200 new roles will be created within the company's water recycling teams to support pollution prevention.
Anglian Water has also introduced its "biggest ever package of support" for customers facing financial difficulties due to the price increase.
The company has allocated £80 million this year to assist those struggling to pay their bills.
Ms Harris said: "That can take the form of a number of things. It can be payment holidays or a reduction in their actual bill. But also, we offer a package of care that's called our extra care team, and they are basically a dedicated team of people that can look at people's income and their outgoings."
The water company however said that this investment programme is only the beginning and that further funding will be necessary beyond the current five-year plan.
While the current plan includes a 29% increase in bills by the end of the five-year period, further reviews will determine future costs.
"We do another review with our regulator, Ofwat, and we plan what the next five years look like," Ms Harris explained. "So it's impossible to say how much bills will go up by ultimately, but as long as there is a need for sustained investment, then we have to strike the balance between making that investment and then trying to keep bills as affordable as possible for customers."