Northumbrian Water Group’s (NWG) is set to begin work on the most ambitious investment plan in its history.
The five-year improvement plan will begin in April 2025 and will see the company to invest £3.6 billion in the region to improve the local water and sewer network.
This major investment will be used to upgrade some of the company’s key infrastructure, including pipelines, treatment works and pumping stations, to help further improve the company’s environmental performance and make sure customers continue to continue to receive a reliable and high-quality water and wastewater service.
Alongside increased investment from shareholders, to fund new investments, customers of the Group, which operates as Northumbrian Water in the North East of England with both water and wastewater services, and as Essex & Suffolk Water with water only in East Anglia, are likely to see an increase in their water bill from April.
The funds raised by increased water bills are guaranteed only to fund improvements in NWG’s local regions. 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 bills, 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 Northumbrian Water Group, 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 and sewer 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 150,000 customers with financial support, and we want to reassure our customers that this help will continue again this year.”
From April, Northumbrian Water’s bills will rise by about £79 a year, with customers paying on average £1.39 per day for their water and sewerage services.
In East Anglia, Essex & Suffolk Water customers will pay an average of 87p per day for water only services, with bills rising by about £32 a year.
Over the next five years Northumbrian Water Group’s investment in the North East and East Anglia regions 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 Northumbrian Water Group and add £7.4bn to the local economies through employment and the use of local suppliers.
The projects demonstrate Northumbrian Water Group's commitment to providing a sustainable and reliable service to customers in the Northeast and will play a vital role in supporting the region's economic and environmental sustainability.
Monisha Gower, Northumbrian Water Group’s Assets Director commented: "Our £3.6bn capital programme for the next five years represents a massive increase in investment in the North East, 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 £2.4bn of that investment aimed at protecting and enhancing the environment, along with work to ensure the resilience of our water and wastewater services, 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.nwl.co.uk/bill-help or www.eswater.co.uk/bill-help