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Household water bills for Caerphilly County Borough are to rise by 42% over the next five years, industry regulator Ofwat has confirmed.

The average bill for Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, which covers our area, will rise from £455 in 2024/25 to £645 by 2029/30.

However, the increases will not be introduced ‘evenly’ with an average hike of around £111 expected for 2025/26.

Ofwat said the increased bills, from water companies across the UK, will go to upgrading infrastructure and reducing sewage discharges as part of a £104bn investment.

David Black, Ofwat Chief Executive, said the increases agreed would give water companies a chance to regain customers’ trust and improve their environmental reputation.

He said: “Customers will rightly expect them to show they can deliver significant improvement over time to justify the increase in bills. Alongside the step up in investment, we need to see a transformation in companies’ culture and performance. We will monitor and hold companies to account on their investment programmes and improvements.

“We recognise it is a difficult time for many, and we are acutely aware of the impact that bill increases will have for some customers. That is why it is vital that companies are stepping up their support for customers who struggle to pay.”

Peter Perry, chief executive of Welsh Water has defended the increase and told BBC Wales the £4bn investment from the firm would improve drinking water and 700km of rivers.

He said: “We know the bill increase won’t be welcomed, but for the last 15 years in Wales, our bills haven’t risen in line with inflation. So we’ve got that deficit where we haven’t been able to carry up the level of investment that’s been required.”

Customers struggling to pay bills can apply for a ‘social tariff’ offered by water companies, but eligibility criteria can differ, creating a ‘postcode lottery’, according to the Consumer Council for Water.

Its chief executive Mike Keil said: “We know at least two in five households will find these increases difficult to afford but the support being offered by some water companies lacks ambition.

“People want to see more investment, but this must be coupled with a strong safety net for customers who will struggle to pay. The case for a single social tariff to end the current postcode lottery of support has never been more compelling.”
For more information about Welsh Water’s HelpU tariff, visit www.dwrcymru.com/en/support-with-bills/helpu-tariff