Household water bills to rise by more than 10% in January
Household water bills are set to increase by between £5 and £8 a month from 1 January.
Bills for metered customers will rise by about 11% and 12% for unmetered customers, as Guernsey Water looks to continue investment in maintaining the island’s networks.
That means that household water and wastewater charges combined will be on average £1.65 per day for metered customers and £2.44 per day for unmetered customers.
Guernsey Water managing director Steve Langlois said costs had risen over the past two years due to inflation.
Rises had been kept to a minimum but several years of financial losses led to a need to increase charges.
‘It has taken over 100 years to develop these facilities and they require continual investment to maintain and renew them, and for reasons that are out of our control, the cost of doing this has increased considerably. This is a challenge for all utility companies,’ said Mr Langlois.
‘By borrowing to fund some of this investment, we will spread the cost to customers over time. We are also reducing our costs. For example, changing how we maintain our wastewater assets delivered a saving of £325,000 last year, and we are expecting to make further efficiencies when this service is brought in-house next year.
'Despite these savings other cost increases mean we are unable to avoid putting charges up in 2025.’
The cesspit emptying charge will increase from £9.09 per load to £10.47, which covers a third of the cost of providing the service, in line with States of Guernsey policy.
The other two-thirds of the cost is funded from wastewater charges paid by all customers.
‘The main reason for this increase is an investment of £2.8m. in new tankers. These will replace older vehicles, which will improve reliability and reduce future maintenance and running costs,’ said Mr Langlois.
‘There will be further savings in the long term because a new vehicle design means the tank can be reused when the chassis needs replacing.’
The renewal of the St Saviour’s treatment works is near completion, and as well as reducing operating costs, it will deliver improved water quality and resilience.
Other major projects have included a water collection main replacement at Moulin Huet and a wastewater pumping station upgrade at La Piette.
‘The increase in charges in 2025 will ensure that schemes which are vital for protecting public health and enable much-needed housing development also progress,’ said Mr Langlois.
In 2025, Guernsey Water will be investing £6.4m. in the island’s water network and other infrastructure. This will include a continuation of the water ring main replacement.
The £11m. cost of the investment will be spread over the seven years it will take to deliver.
