Rising water costs further impact debt management plans
Rising water costs further impact debt management plans
Monday 1st March 2010
A plan to introduce seasonal tariffs is being started by Southern Water, which means consumers would pay more for their water in the summer but less in the winter.
Bills are expected to increase by six per cent during the four months between June and September, and down by two per cent for the rest of the year.
A Southern Water spokesperson said the move was not intended to penalise customers, as the charges would even out during the year.
The new summer rate, which applies only to water charges not waste water, will be 99.9p per cubic metre, while in winter the rate will drop to 92.2p.
Homes without the new automated meters will continue to pay the flat rate of 94p per cubic metre throughout the year.
The Consumer Council for Water has told the Daily Mail that the new rate could hit households that are heavy users, such as larger families.
Spokeswoman Karen Gibbs told the news provider: "We will be watching this very closely. It could benefit some people but others could end up paying more."
Southern Water is the only company to have introduced the scheme, but other firms have also been testing the idea.
Recent research by Markit Economics and YouGov reveals that Britons' finances continue to come under pressure due to the rapid pace of inflation.
Almost 60 per cent of households said prices for goods and services had increased during February, and a third claimed to be pessimistic about their personal finances over the next 12 months.
News article brought to you by Debt1 – UK Debt Management Specialists
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