Customers will be angry at SWW Profits -Adrian Sanders MP

8.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 3rd Jun 2006

South West Water customers will be angry to learn about the company's record profits when they pay record high water and sewerage charges, claims Torbay MP, Adrian Sanders.

Pennon yesterday unveiled £111 million profit this year, a 25% increase on the previous years' profits.

Adrian commented,

"When people in the South West suffer some of the highest water bills in the country they will wonder how much they have contributed to these profits.

"The lack of tough regulation through Water Voice and any Government assistance to help below average income households meet every rising bills, allows the water industry to reveal year on year record profits."

Figures published by the Department of Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) last week highlighted the high cost of water in the South West with average bills for Torbay residents without meters standing at £359, nearly £100 more than the next highest water and sewerage charging area.

Earlier in the year Adrian introduced the Water and Sewerage Charges (limit on Household Expenditure) Bill to seek to ensure the government lifts thousands of local people out of water poverty.