Severn Trent customers to have lowest average charges

30 March 2010

•Average household water and sewerage bill will be £13 lower by 2014/15;
•Around £1.3 million investment per day in our services;
•Additional efficiency improvements will help save £8 from the average household bill by 2015.

Severn Trent Water starts its new business plan for 2010-2015 on 1st April and its customers can expect the lowest average water bills in England and Wales over the five year period.

Across metered and un-metered customers, the average Severn Trent water bill will be £301, or 83 pence per day, for 2010/11 (down £3 on last year) - but it will reduce over the next five years. In 2014/15 the company's average bill will be £292, or 4% lower than the bill for the current year, 2009/10.

Martin Kane, customer services director for Severn Trent Water, comments: "Over the next five years we'll invest around £1.3 million a day to upgrade our assets and deliver the service improvements our customers have told us are important to them. As well as this substantial investment, our average household bills will be - and will stay - the lowest in England and Wales."

Severn Trent's programme for 2010-15 allows the company to deliver:

•Lowest possible bills – average household bills will fall by 4% (in real terms) by 2015
•Challenging efficiency targets to keep bill increases to a minimum, for example by reducing energy costs through more self-generation through renewable energy; and a reduction in the size of our business support services (a reduction of 250 out of 1,100 existing posts during 2010/11);
• Improved services, such as stronger network resilience and reductions in sewer flooding
• Environmental improvements through improving sewage treatment
• Investment in assets to ensure that environmental and drinking water quality improvements achieved in the past two decades are maintained
• Sustainable improvements to improve the water environment, develop sustainable drainage options, and minimise our carbon footprint

Martin added: "Over the next five years, we aim to ensure that our customers continue to receive a high-quality, cost-effective service through investment in our processes and networks: we will continue to offer high standards and great people delivering the service, but now combined with the lowest average charges available in England and Wales.

"At the same time, we appreciate that everyone has had to tighten their belts during the recent downturn, and there is help available for our customers. As soon as you feel you are having financial difficulties please speak to us. There are many ways that you can pay your water bill and we will help you find the payment arrangement which suits you best."

Among the options that Severn Trent customers have are:

• Setting up a payment plan and paying a little off each week or month:
• Saving money by having a meter fitted, so that you pay for the water you use;
• Contacting us about WaterSure, a special tariff with a capped charge. You are eligible if you have a water meter and are on certain benefits, but experience difficulties as a result of high water usage due to a medical condition, or you have two or more children. For more information just call 08457 500500 or visit www.stwater.co.uk.