- Household complaints to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) have reached a nine-year high, primarily driven by the steepest water bill increases since privatisation.
- The CCW reported a three per cent rise in complaints to 8,235, despite an eight per cent fall in direct complaints made to water companies.
- Billing problems accounted for the majority of grievances, with a 138 per cent increase in complaints about the scale of bill rises and a 39 per cent jump in affordability concerns.
- Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, South West Water, Affinity Water, and SES Water were identified as the poorest performing firms based on CCW complaints, while Wessex Water, Portsmouth Water, and Bristol Water topped the rankings.
- Water companies acknowledge the difficulty of bill increases, stating they are necessary for a record five-year investment package to improve services and clean up rivers, and are doubling financial support for customers.
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