Martin Lewis has announced bill increases for every household in England thanks to a decision by the water regulator.

Ofwat has revealed it plans to hike water bills by an average of 36 percent in England and Wales over the next five years, equivalent to £31 per year, with a hefty £86 in the first year, which Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis then shared with his followers.

The average rise across England and Wales will be £31 a year, making £155 by 2029, but some areas will pay much more than that. And the rises don’t account for additions for inflation, so the final bills will be even higher by 2029.

Even worse, the increase is ‘front loaded’, with an eye watering 20% rise in 2025 alone, or £86 on average.

There is a significant variation across different areas, with the largest increase Southern Water at 53% over the next five years, or £221, followed by Severn Trent Water at 47%, then Dwr Cymru and Hafren Dyfrdwy in Wales, both at 42%, followed by Yorkshire Water at 41%.

The smallest increase is Northumbrian Water at ‘just’ 21%, tied with Wessex and South Staffs Water.

SES water will reduce by 3%.

Martin Lewis announced: “NEWS: Ofwat has announced water bills to rise by 36% in Eng and Wales over the next five years.

“Yet the rise is heavily front loaded, with a 20% rise next year. This means average bill will rise from £440 to £526 this year.

“There’s huge variance by water firm…Worth noting, even though you can’t switch, many can cut costs on water bills.”

Water bills are run by a single company in each area, so there is no competition and you can’t switch to another provider.

The UK is one of only three countries in the world which has privatised water, along with Chile and a few cities in the US. But in the past decade, 180 cities in the US have put their water back into public ownership.

For those worried about the price rises, there isn’t a lot you can do, but there are some tips to cut your bills.

If you don’t currently have a water meter, your bills will be estimated based on the size of your house. If you only have a few people living at home, you will probably save money if you get a water meter installed.

Martin explained via his MSE website: “If there are more bedrooms in your home than people, or the same number, check out getting a meter.

With many providers, you’ve two years to assess whether having a water meter is worth it and, if you decide it isn’t right for you, you can ask your water company to switch you back to an unmetered bill.”

Martin added: “If you’re on a low income (up to about £21,000 a year), you may be able to access a social tariff. All water companies offer them, and they can slash as much as 90% off your bill by lowering or even capping what you pay, whether you have a water meter or not – though some also require you to be on certain benefits.

“About 5.7 million households are eligible, but have yet to claim, missing out on an estimated average of £160 a year.”