Customers hit by poor service from water companies could soon get twice as much compensation

Households in the borough receiving shoddy service from water companies could soon get twice as much compensation.

The Government today (12) set out the tough new measures to crack down on water companies who repeatedly fail their customers.

Automatic payouts would be triggered over warnings to boil water, missed appointments and supply interruptions

A boil notice means you must boil your water before you drink it, cook with it, or brush your teeth. The changes would mean that recent outages in Brixham and Bramley earlier this year would have automatically led to compensation for all customers, where there was no entitlement before.   

An issue like low pressure could see payments of up to £250 being made to customers and payments for internal flooding from sewers of up to £2000.

Gedling borough is served by Severn Trent Water.

The new proposals have been set out by Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed.

He said: “Our water industry is broken. 

“After years of failure, households and businesses have been let down by water companies time and time again. 

“The new Government will clean up the water industry and turn the tide on the destruction of our waterways ensuring water companies protect the interests of their customers and the environment.”

The Consumer Council for Water have welcomed the move.

Spokeswoman Jenny Suggate said: “We’re delighted the government is fast-tracking efforts to improve the Guaranteed Standards Scheme, with the potential to boost compensation and support for hundreds of thousands of people each year when they are let down by their water company. 

“Given that there has been little change to the standards since they were first introduced, an overhaul is long overdue, and we know it is a pressing priority for household and business customers. ” 

This consultation follows the Government announcing its Water (Special Measures) Bill to cut sewage spills and encourage investment to upgrade infrastructure. The bill also ensures water bosses would face personal criminal liability for lawbreaking.  It also gives the water regulator new powers to ban the payment of bonuses if environmental standards are not met.

The consultation will run from today (12) until Monday, October 7.

You can take part HERE