英格兰和威尔士水务监管机构Ofwat已批准13家水务公司共34亿英镑的额外支出，用于新住房开发、数据中心建设和改善饮用水质量等项目[1]。这笔支出将超过原计划的104亿英镑投资基础，进一步加重数百万家庭的水费负担。
根据Ofwat的决定，额外支出包括用于水务服务和资产保障的12亿英镑、用于房屋建设和数据中心发展的4.77亿英镑，以及用于减少水系统中有毒化学物质的3400万英镑[1]。13家水务公司原共申请43亿英镑，最终获批34亿英镑[1]。
各地水费涨幅因地区而异。南方水务、泰晤士水务、塞文特伦特、威塞克斯水务和东南水务等五家公司将在十年末前分别提价以支持额外支出[1]。其中，南方水务客户水费预计上涨53%至每年642英镑（截至2030年），塞文特伦特上涨47%，威尔士水务公司上涨42%[1]。Ofwat宣布的额外账单显示，南方水务用户每年增加80英镑，泰晤士水务和塞文特伦特各增8英镑，威塞克斯水务增11英镑，东南水务增1英镑[1]。
环境秘书Angela Eagle表示政府已为新基础设施专款，并承诺进行水务行业改革[1]。
Water companies across England and Wales have been authorized to spend an additional £3.4 billion beyond their original investment plans, a decision that will result in further bill increases for millions of households [1]. The extra expenditure, approved by Ofwat, the regulator for water services in England and Wales, supports new housing developments, data center construction, and improvements to drinking water quality [1].
Of the £3.4 billion approved, £1.2 billion is designated for water service and asset protection, £477 million for housing and data center development, and £34 million for reducing toxic chemicals in water systems [1]. The approval came after 13 water companies jointly requested £4.3 billion in additional funding [1]. Ofwat announced specific bill increases on Thursday: Southern Water customers will see an additional £80 on their bills, while Thames Water and Severn Trent will each add £8, Wessex Water £11, and South East Water £1 [1].
These increases compound existing price hikes already planned. By 2030, Southern Water customers will face a total bill rise of 53 percent to £642 annually, Severn Trent customers a 47 percent increase, and Welsh water company customers a 42 percent increase [1]. Environment Secretary Angela Eagle stated that the government had allocated dedicated funding for new infrastructure and committed to reforming the water industry [1].