Anglian Water’s Bill Hike Begins to Bite As Locals Feel the Impact of Rising Prices...

Locals living in Hartlepool see their Water Bills creep ever higher, as 'greedy' water firms pile on the pressure on struggling households.

11th August 2025

Local's living in Hartlepool have taken to social media to highlight the significant increase being felt on their household Water Bills as the most recent price increase begins to bite.

Anglian Water, one of the UK’s largest water and sewerage providers, has come under fire for its recent bill increases, with customers reportedly facing significant hikes to fund infrastructure upgrades and environmental commitments. The company’s latest price adjustments have drawn particular attention in Hartlepool, where locals are grappling with sharply rising bills not just in Water Rates, but food & utilities such as Gas & Electric.

Anglian Water’s Bill Increases: The Numbers

In December 2024, Ofwat, the water industry regulator, approved a 29% bill increase for Anglian Water over the next five years (2025–2030) to support an £11 billion investment program aimed at upgrading infrastructure and addressing environmental challenges.

For the 2025/26 financial year, this translates to a 19% annual increase, raising the average household bill for water and sewerage services from £491 to £626—a daily cost of £1.72, up from £1.45. This follows an 8.6% hike last year, which pushed average bills to £529, up from £489.

Anglian Water appealed to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to allow even higher increases, arguing that the current settlement does not adequately fund necessary improvements. CEO Mark Thurston stated that Ofwat’s determination “falls short” of balancing customer interests with the need for investment, citing nearly £1 billion in efficiency savings already factored in. Critics, including Norwich South MP Clive Lewis, have slammed the move, arguing that customers are being asked to pay for infrastructure that should have been maintained through decades of shareholder dividends which were paid out.

Anglian Water insists the hike in customer bills is addressing the businesses needs for the future...

The company justifies these increases as essential for addressing a growing population (an expected 700,000 more residents in the region by 2045), climate change challenges, and water scarcity in the East of England. Investments include a strategic pipeline to move water from wetter to drier areas and plans for two new reservoirs. Additionally, £12 of the annual increase is said to be earmarked for sewerage infrastructure improvements as part of a £10 billion industry-wide plan to reduce sewage discharges. However, public frustration is mounting, particularly given Anglian Water’s environmental track record, including a £62.8 million fine in 2025 for “excessive” sewage dumping and a £1.42 million fine for drinking water failures affecting 1.3 million customers.

Anglian Water provides water and sewerage services to approximately 7 million customers across the East of England and parts of the East Midlands, covering regions such as Lincolnshire, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and Hartlepool.

The company operates as a regional monopoly, meaning customers cannot switch providers as they can do for Gas & Electric, a point of contention amidst rising bills and criticism of the privatised water sector. This vast customer base means that bill increases impact a significant portion of the population, particularly in water-scarce and fast-growing regions.

CEO Salary: A Point of Comparison

CEO Mark Thurston’s yearly salary has not been published, however its claimed to be in line with other water companies around the country.

While customers face rising bills, Anglian Water’s executive pay has drawn considerable scrutiny. Although specific figures for CEO Mark Thurston’s salary in 2025 are not publicly detailed, the broader context of water company executive pay fuels public considerable public anger.

For comparison, Southern Water’s CEO, Lawrence Gosden, saw his salary double to £1.4 million, a figure that sparked outrage amid a 53% bill increase for Southern Water customers.

Anglian Water’s profits surged by 15.2% to £496.5 million in the year ending March 31, 2025, driven by bill hikes, while the company then paid a £92 million dividend to its owners, a consortium of pension funds and investment firms. Critics argue that such financial rewards, juxtaposed against a £7.72 billion debt pile and environmental failures, highlight a complete disconnect between corporate priorities and customer affordability.

In towns such as Hartlepool, a town within Anglian Water’s service area & already branded as having some of the highest levels of poverty in the country, local residents are feeling the pinch of these bill increases. The 19% hike for 2025/26 translates to an additional £135 annually for the average household, bringing bills to £626.

For unmetered customers, the situation can be even more severe. One MoneySavingExpert forum user reported a bill of £949.34 for a standard three-bedroom house in 2025, including a fixed charge of £886.40, describing the increase as a “huge leap.” Hartlepool locals, like others in the region, are locked into Anglian Water’s services due to the regional monopoly, leaving them with no alternative but to absorb the costs or see their credit ratings ruined as a result. .

A local newspaper highlighted the broader context of water bill increases across England and Wales, noting that while Anglian Water’s 19% rise is significant, other providers like Southern Water (47%) and Severn Trent (47%) are implementing even steeper hikes. However, this offers little comfort to Hartlepool residents, who are also contending with the cost-of-living crisis. Environmental campaigners, such as Giles Bristow of Surfers Against Sewage, have criticised the water industry’s model, pointing out that a third of customer payments go toward debt servicing and dividends rather than infrastructure improvements.

In Hartlepool, where sewage pollution and infrastructure concerns are already sore points, these increases feel particularly unjust.

The bill hikes have also sparked widespread criticism, with environmentalists arguing that the increases won’t guarantee cleaner waterways, with Anglian Water reporting a rise in pollution incidents in 2024/25 despite a 36% reduction in serious incidents.

In the midst of a cost of living crisis Anglian Water has reportedly pledged over £80 million to support customers struggling with payments..

Anglian Water has pledged over £80 million to support customers struggling with payments, offering discounts of up to 50% and tailored assistance through social tariffs and payment plans. The company emphasises that UK law prevents water disconnections for unpaid bills, ensuring access to this essential service. However, unpaid bills can accrue interest and late fees, potentially leading to debt collection & a negative impact on a persons credit history, which only adds further pressure on households.

Anglian Water’s recent bill increases, approved at 29% over five years with a 19% jump in 2025/26, affect its 7 million customers across the East of England and East Midlands, including Hartlepool, where bills are rising to £626 on average—and higher for unmetered households.

While the company cites necessary investments in infrastructure and environmental protections, its £496.5 million profit, £92 million dividend, against a £7.72 billion debt has fuelled accusations of profiteering & corruption. The lack of transparency around CEO Mark Thurston’s salary, combined with industry-wide examples of high executive pay, only deepens public frustration. In Hartlepool, locals face these hikes with no ability to switch providers, amplifying calls for reform in the water sector.

As Anglian Water seeks even higher increases through the CMA, the debate over balancing investment, affordability, and accountability continues to intensify.