'Unfair' South West Water price trial begins

Chris Weatherley said he had been taken off the trial after contacting South West Water

A trial that will see some people charged more for their water in the summer but less in winter has begun.

Households and businesses across Devon and Cornwall are included in 3,500 customers selected by South West Water (SWW) to take part in the two-year project.

SWW said the idea behind trialling two new seasonal tariffs was to "find fairer ways to charge customers, while protecting the natural environment".

One customer told the BBC that he did not "consent to be part of the trial" and had since been removed from it after complaining to the company.

Torbay councillor Hazel Foster called for the trial to be stopped

Those on the seasonal tariff will be given a lower rate for water between October and the end of March, but the cost will be three times higher for the rest of the year - during the summer months.

Customers on the summer peak tariff will get a lower than normal base price for water, which then increases once a usage threshold is met.

In Devon, Torbay councillor Hazel Foster said she had been contacted by almost 30 residents who were angry about the trial.

The councillor, who represents the Wellswood ward, said Torbay Council had written to SWW to ask representatives from the company to appear before the authority’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee at a meeting planned for 8 October.

She added: "It’s really important that SWW fully understands the anger of residents here in Torbay. This trial is unfair and needs to be stopped."

Brian Smith from Torquay said he had been told by SWW he would not be able to opt out of the trial

Torquay resident Brian Smith said he believed he would end up paying more for his water for the duration of the trial.

"I already have water butts, I already manage my water supply and costs," he said.

"There was no option to opt out and I was told categorically that wasn't going to happen".

However, Chris Weatherley, 71, of Mylor Bridge, Cornwall, said he had been removed from the trial after he made a complaint.

He said: "When do you need more water? In the summer."

The trial is being supported by the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) and Ofwat.

The water industry regulator said: "We welcome the company carrying out this trial and the reality is that most customers - perhaps two thirds, but likely many more, will be better off as a result."

The CCW said the trial "needed to be compulsory", adding a "self-selecting or consenting trial group would not produce results representative of the wider customer base".

'Precious resources'

SWW said: "We will, of course, listen to any customer who may not want to take part in the trial.

"We hope that our customers will want to remain part of this so that we can help people to only pay for the water they use."

CEO Susan Davy said the company believed "everyone deserves a fair, transparent, and simple way of being charged for the water they use".

She said: "The introduction of our new customer tariffs is a direct response to what our customers have told us.

"Water is precious and we are doing more than ever to secure resources for now and the future."

SWW provides water and sewerage services to about 1.8 million customers in Devon and Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, plus small parts of Dorset and Somerset.