Customers ‘short-changed’ as water firms fail to invest

Emma Clancy, chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water, said: “Customers will feel like they’ve been shortchanged if water companies fail to deliver on their promises and that risks eroding trust in the industry.

“Households have a right to expect that their money is being spent wisely and customers have made clear to us they see a resilient water supply, tackling leakage and protecting the environment as priorities.”

Ofwat said between 2020 and 2022 14 companies underspent on improving their water network and eight on wastewater.

Affinity Water and Northumbrian Water spent just 47 per cent and 48 per cent of their water enhancement allowance respectively. For Yorkshire Water and South West Water these figures were 20 and 39 percent.

Ofwat sets allowances for how much companies can charge households for investment.

Article source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1706373/water-companies-investment-promise-broken