The CEO of Scottish Water, Alex Plant, has cautioned that the 8.8% increase in water bills scheduled for April could be followed by additional hikes in the coming years. While emphasizing that
no increases have been finalized for 2025 and 2026, Plant acknowledged that the challenges faced by the publicly-owned company would require continued investment. Despite a 5% rise in 2023 and a 4.2% increase in 2022, he stressed that rates are decided annually.
Plant highlighted the recommendations by the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, an independent regulator, for above-inflation rises until 2027, indicating a potential trend for future increases.
The looming challenges include climate change impacts, with the company's infrastructure, built in the Victorian era, not adequately equipped to handle weather volatility caused by climate change. Plant emphasized the importance of sustained investment to maintain resilient services amid changing climate conditions. Photo by Josh Estey/AusAID, Wikimedia commons.