A number of news channels are this morning reporting that Southern Water is considering “bill rises of 73%” for its upcoming AMP8 2025-30 investment programme.

According to the widespread reports across a number of news organisations, which include the Independent, Evening Standard and ITV News, the proposals have been outlined in documents provided to the PA news agency by a member of a focus group who “wished to remain anonymous”

Under the plans, which take into account inflation, each household would have to pay on average 73% more by 2030 compared with today – a total of £759 a year.

The articles quote Southern Water as saying that the options are “not final but part of a wider programme of research before it submits its proposals to industry regulator Ofwat in October.”

According to the focus group documents, Southern Water says it it will need to charge £30 per household (a total of £750 million) in order to meet its regulatory commitments to reduce sewage spills by 25% by 2030 and 75% by 2050.

Responding on Twitter to the news story, Cat Hobbs, director of We Own It, a group campaigning for public ownership of the water companies, commented:

“Unbelievable cheek from Southern Water - they want to increase bills by 73% so they can stop pouring sewage into our rivers and seas!

“No wonder a new boycott campaign is taking off in Hastings. Water privatisation has failed - we need public ownership.”