United Utilities promises lower water bills

WATER company United Utilities said household bills will come down in 2015-20 following negotiations with the regulator Ofwat.

It also said the overall cost of its infrastructure investment will be lower after discussing the plans with the regulator as part of its draft determination covering costs over the next five years.

Earlier this year Ofwat questioned £1.1bn of infrastructure spending forecast by Warrington-based United Utilities.

Today it said adjustments would reduce expenditure by £370m, bringing the total for 2015-20 to £5.52bn from £5.89bn.

It said its revised plan would result in average household bills falling by 4.1% in real terms over the 2015-20 period, compared with a 2.3% reduction in an earlier June plan.