Families struggling in the cost of living crisis are due to be hit by another increase when Northumbrian Water raises its prices by an average of £29 a year in April.
The 2.7m customers in our region will pay an average bill of £391 for their water and sewerage services in 2023/24, up around 7.5% compared to the £362 we are paying this year. But it's not all bad news - the overall cost of the bill remains the second lowest in the UK, with only Hafren Dyfrdwy customers in Wales paying less, at £372 per year.
Water bills across England and Wales are set to rise by an average of 7.5% in April 2023 – or £31/year on a typical bill. But some regions face steeper increases, with customers of Wessex Water and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water hit the worst, with average bills of £504 and £499 respectively, giving them the most expensive water rates in the county.
Read more: Find out to cut your water bill by up to 50% in cost of living crisis
Last year, Northumbrian Water customers suffered the highest percentage rise in the UK, although the overall bill was the second lowest. Northumbrian Water said the hike was due to investing over £450 million pounds into the region’s water and wastewater networks during 2022, part of a five-year £2.4 billion investment plan between 2020 and 2025.
North East households are locked into using Northumbrian Water, which means you can't switch suppliers if you think you could get a better deal. But there are still ways to save money on your bill, including:
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Switching to a water meter: If you have more bedrooms than people living in your house, it's probably worth considering switching to a water meter rather than paying a fixed bill.
- Use less water. Northumbrian Water offers a selection of water-saving gadgets you can order for free, including shower Flow regulators, shower timers and water-saving tap Inserts.
If you're struggling to pay your water biill, Northumbrian Water offers three schemes which may help you out. More information is here.
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