A mandatory water firms’ refund is a fraction of the coming bill rise customers will face – both of them ordered by the regulator. Doesn’t that make a mockery of customer protection?

Ofwat has ordered the worst-performing water companies to return £158 million to customers, after they missed important targets on pollution and leaks.

It means most customers will see their bills fall by less than £10.

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Meanwhile, Ofwat has also proposed a long-term bill increase of £94 over the next five years – meaning the water companies will get back what they’re giving away, almost tenfold.

If This Writer is reading the BBC article properly, though, there is an incentive scheme that means only Severn Trent, SES Water, Northumbrian Water, and United Utilities (really?) will be able to put up their bills.

Visit the link relating to United Utilities and you may doubt the veracity of the claims on which the incentive scheme relies.

Put it all together and it seems we’re all being sold down the river.

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