Ofwat has provisionally approved 13 water companies to charge customers more for investment.
Why it matters: Household water bills in England and Wales are already set to rise through 2030. This decision adds to the broader debate over how to fund infrastructure upgrades without further eroding customer trust.
- BBC Business reported on 13 August 2026 that Ofwat gave provisional approval to 13 water companies.
- The companies can seek extra charges from customers to help fund planned investment in England and Wales.
- Ofwat's 2024 price review already set average water-and-wastewater bills to rise from £440 in 2024-25 to £597 in 2029-30.
- The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee said customer trust in the sector was at its lowest level since monitoring began in 2011.
Ofwat's 2024 price review had already locked in higher bills across the 2025-2030 period to finance essential investment in England and Wales. The regulator said it sets limits on what companies can charge, and that average household bills were expected to rise over the period to cover that spending. Ofwat's customer guide
In its final determinations, Ofwat put the average bill for water and wastewater companies at £440 in 2024-25 and £597 in 2029-30, an increase of £157, or 36%. Ofwat also said around 90% of the approved funding would go toward requirements from the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and the Drinking Water Inspectorate. The sector summary
The BBC said the latest provisional approval covers 13 companies, but did not identify them in the material available here. Ofwat has said companies can apply for cost changes in 2026, 2027 and 2028 under a new in-period adjustment mechanism. The cost-change process
Pressure on bills comes as Parliament's Public Accounts Committee said water companies are expected to spend £109 billion in 2025-30, up 70% from the previous five years. The committee also said only 4% of customers were on social support tariffs now, rising to 9% by 2030. The committee's report
By the numbers
- 13 - water companies received provisional approval for extra funding, according to BBC Business.
- £157 - average bill increase Ofwat set for water-and-wastewater customers from 2024-25 to 2029-30.
- 90% - share of approved funding Ofwat said would go to regulatory requirements from environmental and drinking-water bodies.
Yes, but: The BBC report did not identify the 13 companies or spell out the exact mechanism behind the provisional approvals in the material available here.
What's next: Ofwat's in-period adjustment window runs through 2026, 2027 and 2028 under its final determinations.