Gegli news - Water bills to fall in coming years - here's why

Gegli news - Water bills to fall in coming years - here's why - 12/13/2017 1:23:31 PM 1:23:31 PM 

The industry regulator Ofwat will force water companies to pass on savings from reduced financing costs to customers.

 Water bills will fall by up to £25 a year from 2020, the industry regulator has said, as it plans to force firms to pass on savings from reduced financing costs to customers.

The Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) will carry out its next price review in 2019, and is proposing to set the so-called 'cost of capital' that has a direct bearing on bills at a record low of 2.4%.

It will also set out service performance and targets for the 2020-25 period.

The body pledeged customers in England and Wales could "look forward to lower bills, improved services, reduced leakage and more help for the most vulnerable".

Chief executive Cathryn Ross said: "The next decade will see profound changes in customers' expectations and we are pushing the water sector to be at the very forefront of that."

She added: "We've said many times already that this will be a tough price review for companies.

"We will cut the financing costs they can recover from customers and, with this lower guaranteed return, they will need to more efficient and innovative than ever before.

"I've no doubt that the sector can step up and meet the challenges we've laid before them today."

In January 2016, MPs blamed the regulator for millions of households paying too much for their water supply.

The Public Accounts Committee said OFWAT had consistently overestimated companies' financing and tax costs when setting price limits.