Essex & Suffolk Water’s (ESW) is set to begin work on the most ambitious investment plan in their history.
The five-year improvement plan will begin in April 2025 and will see the company invest £1 billion in Essex & Suffolk to improve the local water network.
This major investment programme will see upgrades some of the company’s key infrastructure, including pipelines and treatment works to make sure customers continue to receive a reliable and high-quality water service.
Alongside increased investment from shareholders, to partly fund these investments ESW’s customers will see an increase in their water bill, with an average bill increasing by around 61p per week for water services, which equates to around £32 per year or 11.1%. This is one of the lowest increases for a water provider in England.
The funds raised by increased water bills are guaranteed only to fund improvements in the region, in addition, the water company is committed to spending 60p in every pound with local suppliers to ensure funds stay in the region to support jobs and the economy.
To help support customers with this, the water supplier is committed to providing help for any customers who need it, offering a variety of financial support options.
We’ll play our part delivering the Consumer Council for Water’s water poverty commitment and over the next five years we promise to support even more customers through our shareholders providing a £20m support fund.
Head of Affordability Support, at Essex & Suffolk Water, Mark Wilkinson, said: “It’s important we keep delivering a service our customers can rely on, including producing clean, clear, and great tasting tap water, as well as protecting the environment. This is why we continue to invest in the future of our water network.
“We do understand though, that the increase in water bill prices can be a concern for our customers. We want to make sure we have lots of support available from payment plans to payment breaks through to, low-income discounts and free debt support, thanks to our partnership with Stepchange Debt Charity.”
Last year we helped over 50,000 customers with financial support, and we want to reassure our customers that this help will continue again this year.”
From April, ESW customers will be paying on average 87p per day for their water services.
Over the next five years Essex & Suffolk’s investment in their region will include a number of key projects. The water company’s largest investment to date is on track to create 3,000 jobs per year across ESW’s parent company Northumbrian Water Group and add £1.7bn to the local economy through employment and the use of local suppliers.
The projects demonstrate ESW’s commitment to providing a sustainable and reliable service to their and will play a vital role in supporting the region's economic and environmental sustainability.
Monisha Gower Essex and Suffolk Water’s Assets Director commented: "Our £1bn capital programme for the next five years represents a massive increase in investment in Essex and Suffolk, almost three times that of the previous five year period. We've carried out extensive consultation with customers to inform the development of our investment plan, so we know that what we will be delivering aligns with their priorities.
"With £600 million of that investment aimed at protecting and enhancing the environment, along with work to ensure the resilience of our water networks, customers' bills will be spent directly on the things that matter to them and to their communities."
To find out more about the support available for customers who are struggling financially, visit www.eswater.co.uk/bill-help