Charges for water will increase by 6% in January 2023, equivalent to an increase of approximately £23 per year, for the average household, or 6 pence per day, as Jersey Water responds to upward pressures on costs. There will be no further increases in Jersey Water’s prices until January 2024.
The Company is committed to keeping tariff increases to a minimum whilst ensuring it has sufficient revenue to fund investment in the island’s water network, meet its operating expenditure and service its funding costs. This increase is 1.9% below the June RPI of 7.9%, with the price of water in Jersey decreasing, in real terms, by approximately 1.9% over the previous 10 years.
Helier Smith, Jersey Water’s Chief Executive, said “Like many businesses we are experiencing sizeable increases in our operating costs including energy, raw materials, labour, transport, and financing. These cost increases are driven by factors outside of our control including the effects of Brexit, Covid and the war in Ukraine on supply chains and financial markets.
We are acutely aware of the increased cost of living in Jersey and the impact that is having on household budgets. We have been actively doing what we can to shield customers from these increases, however, it is essential that Jersey Water maintains its capacity to invest in the island’s water supply infrastructure.
The costs associated with this summer’s running of the desalination plant and the revenue lost through the imposition of the temporary hosepipe ban have not been factored into the tariff increase and will be funded, in this instance, from reserves.
We are pledging no further increase until January 2024 and would encourage customers who are concerned about the impact of the increase or paying their water bill to contact the Jersey Water Customer Services Team. The trained team are ready to work with and support any customer in financial hardship or who is having trouble paying their water bill.
Customers wishing to use less water to reduce their water and energy bills are encouraged to use Jersey Water’s GetWaterFit app to access free water saving devices and tailored water efficiency guidance. The app can be downloaded from app stores by following the link on Jersey Water’s website (www.jerseywater.je).”