Charges for water will increase by approximately 3.5% from January 2022 as Jersey Water responds to upward pressures on costs. The price rise means average household water bills will increase by approximately 3 pence per day.
The increase, which is just above the current published Jersey RPI of 2.9%, is the first to exceed RPI in over 10 years and just the third in the past 20 years. The Company has a published policy of keeping price increases at or below the rate of inflation wherever possible. The price of water in Jersey has fallen, in real terms, by approximately 2.7% over the previous 10 years. In January 2020, the Company deferred its last increase by six months to support customers through the effects of the first waves of the Covid pandemic.
Helier Smith, Jersey Water’s Chief Executive, said:
“We work hard to keep price increases down whilst ensuring that Jersey Water continues to be able to maintain the high standards of service and water quality that our customers expect, both now and in the future. That policy has been hugely successful over the past two decades to the benefit of our island customers and the community.
The rising costs of energy, raw materials, labour, and transport have been well publicised in the media recently as industries react to the effects of Brexit, the pandemic and other macro-economic factors. The nature of Jersey Water’s activities means that price inflation in these areas has a direct impact on the company’s costs.
We are mindful that water bill increases are never welcome, and we do what we reasonably can to offset rising costs. However, it is necessary for us to increase our prices by a modest amount and occasionally exceed RPI to maintain our ongoing and essential investment in the Island’s water supply.
During 2022 and beyond, the company will be focussed on achieving further reductions in leakage, encouraging greater water efficiency, and developing additional water resources to safeguard water supplies in the future. These and further investments to maintain high water quality all build on the resilience and sustainability of Jersey’s water supply on which we all rely.
Any customer worried about the impact of the increase or paying their water bill is encouraged to contact the Jersey Water Customer Services Team. The trained team are ready to work with and support any customer in financial hardship or who is having trouble paying their water bill.”
Customers wishing to reduce their water and energy bills are encouraged to use Jersey Water’s GetWaterFit app to access free water saving devices and tailored water efficiency guidance. The app can be downloaded from app stores by following the link on Jersey Water’s website (www.Jerseywater.je).