Water Bills Are Low

People living in the Black Country and large parts of Staffordshire are benefiting from water bills that are now 20% lower than the national average. Customers of South Staffordshire Water save on average over £20 a year due to the progress that the Company has made in reducing its running costs.

A report published by the water regulator, Ofwat, shows that South
Staffordshire is now ranked the second most efficient water company in
England and Wales.

Phil Bateman, Chair of the South Staffordshire Water Customer Consultative Committee said: "We are pleased with the progress that South Staffs has made in reducing the costs of its operations. It is pleasing to see that water bills are now materially lower in this part of the country. The Company has also reduced the number of offices it operates from and has contracted out work that was costly to operate in-house".

“The company has not let standards slip during this time of cost
reduction and should be congratulated for the value for money service it offers to its 1.2 million customers".

Mr Bateman however warned customers that it is still likely that water
bills will rise from 2005.

He said "Unfortunately the Company has much less scope to meet new cost pressures, like higher Government taxes, by offsetting these with cost reductions in other areas of the business. Hence it is inevitable that bills will rise in 2005".

The extent of these rises will depend on the review of prices underway by the water regulator, Ofwat, with final decisions due in November this
year.