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<h5>Today, water companies across England and Wales are releasing their new schemes of charges for 2024-2025. This year, Portsmouth Water’s average household water supply bill is set to increase by 2.8%. In real terms, this is around an additional 23 pence per month.</h5>
While this will be difficult for many customers, the increase falls well below the rate of inflation of 4.2%, and below the water industry average increase of 6%. Recognising the challenges customers are facing, Portsmouth Water has also been expanding its support to customers who are having difficulties paying and it continues to offer a wide range of ways to pay to help customers spread the cost.

The company increased the threshold of those eligible for its Helping Hand social tariff from £17,005 to £21,000 in July 2023, which in real terms, saw an additional 15% of customers benefit from the price cap the tariff offers. In addition, Portsmouth Water has also doubled the length of its payment holiday option from three to six months.

<strong>Portsmouth Water are proud to maintain the lowest water supply charges in England and Wales. On average, Portsmouth Water customers pay 33 pence per day for their water supply. </strong>

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[caption id="attachment_14346" align="aligncenter" width="144"]<img class="wp-image-14346" src="https://www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Picture2.jpg" alt="Bob Taylor, CEO Portsmouth Water" width="144" height="210" /> Bob Taylor, CEO Portsmouth Water[/caption]

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<strong>Bob Taylor, CEO of Portsmouth Water said:</strong>

"We understand that even a small increase can be difficult right now given the cost of living making it more challenging for customers to keep on top of their household bills.

That's why we've worked hard to keep bill increases minimal and expand our support programs for the most vulnerable in our supply area, meanwhile continuing to invest in our network. We remain committed to providing high-quality water at the lowest possible cost while investing in the future of our water supply.”
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The Company has a proud record of maintaining high standards of customer service; achieving second place for customer service overall in the 2022-23 Customer Measure of Experience (C-MeX), which measures the quality of services delivered to household customers by its water company.

In line with the regulator guidelines, Portsmouth Water has carried out independent research into the effects of the new charges on customer bills across a range of household customer types. This has included focus groups on affordability as part of Portsmouth Water's latest Business Plan submission.

Despite the record investment submitted in the business plan to reduce leakage and upgrading infrastructure across its network; bills are rising less than they did in the previous financial year and compared to the high levels of inflation seen in recent years, this represents a real-terms price fall of the Portsmouth Water bill of 6% over the last decade.

<strong>For more information on Portsmouth Water’s Scheme of charges for 2023-2024 <a href="https://www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/customer-services/charges-and-payments/">please visit our Charges and Payments page</a></strong>
<p style="text-align: left;">Contact Portsmouth Water with any questions or concerns by calling 023 9249 9888 or emailing <a href="mailto:head.office@portsmouthwater.co.uk">head.office@portsmouthwater.co.uk</a></p>