Fifteen water firms are planning to roll out pricing trials that include seasonal tariffs on water consumption, as well as higher charges during shortages.
This comes as Yorkshire Water introduced a hosepipe ban on Friday after the region experienced its driest spring in 132 years.
The announcements were made after reservoirs across England reached their lowest June levels in a decade. The reservoirs were 76 per cent full last month, marking a drop from the 77 per cent capacity recorded during the severe drought year of 2022.
To cope with the rising demand, water companies such as Anglian Water have set out plans to trial seasonal tariffs that aim to “reduce discretionary water usage” in summer.
Dry cracked earth at Baitings Reservoir in Ripponden, West Yorkshire (Photo: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)One such trial is being rolled out by Severn Trent, which aims to allow customers taking part to pay less for their first 5,000 litres consumed in a month, current bills for the next 5,000 and a higher rate for all usage over 10,000 litres.
The trials have been dovetailed with water companies’ controversial roll-out of smart meters, which can be used to track household consumption levels during certain timeframes.
square CLIMATE CHANGE ExplainedHow drought, food shortages and wildfires could plague this summer
Read More
A Water UK spokesperson said: “With water meters, people pay only for the water they use.
“Companies are not allowed to profit from these trials, which are also intended to save water.”
After introducing a hosepipe ban, Yorkshire Water’s director of water, Dave Kaye, warned restrictions could last until winter, adding that action was needed “now” to conserve water and protect the environment.
Customers who breach the ban could face fines of up to £1,000, but the utility previously said “we hope it won’t come to that”.
Ofwat denied that smart meters were being used to monitor whether people breached hosepipe bans, as the devices could not identify how water was being consumed.
Hence then, the article about will water companies charge you more in the summer was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Will water companies charge you more in the summer? )
Also on site :