Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water’s average household bill will remain unchanged and below the rate of inflation, the Nelson-based not-for-profit company has announced.
The company has also confirmed plans to help more of its customers who are struggling to pay their bills.
A record 60,000 customers currently benefit from the company’s social tariffs. Welsh Water’s latest new social tariff, HelpU, which offers annual savings of up to £250 or 55% on the average household bill, will now be available to customers whose annual household income is less than £15,000 per year.
The average household bill for 2016 will be £438.
The freeze on prices comes after the company delivered its best overall performance last year since being set up as a not-for-profit firm in 2001.
Welsh Water’s Chief Executive Chris Jones said: “We are pleased to keep prices for the average bill below the rate of RPI inflation for the seventh consecutive year.
“This continues the trend we have set since 2010 and we remain the only water company to have committed to achieve a decade of below inflation price increases by 2020 whilst also delivering record levels of investment.
“Our unique not-for-profit model means that we can do more of our customers and this is why we already help around 60,000 customers through our different social tariffs.
“We want to help even further. If any customer is struggling to pay with their water and sewerage bills, we would urge them to contact us today so that we can try to help.”