WATER companies are seeking bill increases of 29 per cent over the next five years in their business plans submitted to water services regulator Ofwat.
The plans, which set out the price limits the companies believe they will need, would increase the average bill for customers in England and Wales from £240 in 2004/05 to £310 in 2009/10.
The companies say they need to carry out nearly £22 billion of capital expenditure.
Each of the plans, which include details of how the companies will deliver the government's environmental and quality improvement strategy, will be scrutinised by Ofwat, which will publish its final decisions in December.
Director general of water services Philip Fletcher said: "We will work hard to ensure that price limits are no higher than is necessary to enable companies to raise finance and deliver all these improvements."
Increases will take effect in the April 2005 bills.
Water watchdog WaterVoice Wessex is urging customers to make their voice heard on Bournemouth & West Hampshire Water's plan, which asks Ofwat to increase the average household water bill by 12.5 per cent over five years.
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