Welsh Water bills to see lowest rise, 2.7%, from April

Image caption, Single person households might be better off with a metered water supply, say consumer experts

Customers of Welsh Water are set to have the smallest rise in their bills in England and Wales, according industry regulator Ofwat.

Their combined water and sewerage bills are expected to rise by 拢11 or 2.7%.

Average bills in England and Wales will go up by 4.6% this April to 拢356. For Severn Trent customers in Wales, the average increase will be 拢13 or 4.3%.

Dee Valley customers, whose bill only includes water charges, can expect bills to rise over 5% at 拢7.

The Consumer Council for Wales, which represents the interests of water consumers in Wales, has urged single person households to consider switching to a metered water supply.

Chair Diane McCrea said: "If you are single person, or two people who don't use a lot of water, check whether you are on a meter and whether you could save money with your water bill by being on a meter.

"Because of the way the regulations are set, metered customers don't pay quite as much, on average, as those who are on [the] rateable value [of their property].

"We know that, still, about 70% of people in Wales don't have a meter. That's something the single person households can think about to reduce their water bill.

Ofwat said the profits generated by higher prices to water customers would help finance 拢22bn of spending on improved services.