10 December 2004
Water charges in Scotland are due to rise by 5% plus inflation between 2006 and 2010, according to a draft business plan submitted to ministers.
Scottish Water said the proposed increase compared with an average rise of 18.8% before inflation in England and Wales between 2005 and 2010.
However, water industry commissioner Alan Sutherland was not convinced. He said: 'I am increasingly confident that, on average, customers' bills can increase at less than the rate of inflation in the period 2006/2010.'
Scottish Water is planning an investment programme of just over £2.2bn over the four-year period.
Chief executive Jon Hargreaves said: 'The fact that we're debating whether to raise bills slightly or not raise them at all during a period when we're making record levels of investment indicates how far the water industry has come in the relatively short period since Scottish Water was created in 2002.'
The draft plan is Scottish Water's contribution to discussions on the priorities for the next investment programme.
PFdec2004
