Anticipated wholesale price increases in England for 2026/27
This page provides more information on the anticipated wholesale price increases in England and links to wholesalers’ indicative charges.
Important information
In England the anticipated annual wholesale price increases for water and waste water charges, which will come into effect from 1 April 2026, are based on Ofwat’s published price controls (PR24) and the regional wholesalers’ indicative charges for 2026/27. To find out more about Ofwat’s published price controls, please click the PR24 article button further down this page.
Water wholesalers will publish their final wholesale charges for 2026/27 early in the new year.
What does this mean for you and your business?
The indicative increases should give you an idea of what to expect from 1 April 2026 when it comes to your annual water and waste water charge increases. This will help you to plan and speak to us if you have any concerns. Wholesaler's final charges for 2026/27 will be confirmed early in 2026.
Indicative wholesale charges at a glance
You can view the indicative wholesale charge percentage increase for your region in the tables further down this page.
Price Review 2025 article
To help you understand more about the price increases , we’ve recently published an article which you may find helpful to read. Please click the button below.
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Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Naturally Speaking, to read more about the expected increases and key changes in specific regions of England.
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We’re here to help
We recognise that these wholesale price increases come at a time when many businesses are already facing increased cost pressures, and we’re committed to doing what we can to minimise the impact.
We’ll be in touch with all customers between January and March to let you know what the final wholesale price increases will be for your wholesale region. In the meantime, please visit our Customer Support page to view a range of support options we can offer you. Alternatively, if you would like to speak to us, please get in touch with your dedicated Account Manager, if you have one, or contact us here and one of our friendly advisers will be happy to help.
Ofwat’s final determinations | Central Market Agency (CMA) re-review
Annual price increases are set within the parameters of Ofwat’s price controls. In December 2024, Ofwat published their final determinations, which confirmed an average price increase of 42% before inflation over the five-year period from 2025-30. Five wholesalers appealed for higher increases in response to this and their cases were referred to the Central Market Agency (CMA) for re-determination.
The CMA has recently published their draft re-determinations, indicating that increases may go up by around 3%. These re-determinations are subject to consultation and final approval which may not be until March 2026, in which case these increases won’t impact your charges until 2027/28. We’ll let you know as we receive updates on this change. You can read more about this at here.
Indicative 2026/27 price increases by wholesaler - Measured supplies |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wholesaler |
Measured water |
Measured sewerage |
Surface water drainage |
Highway drainage |
Trade Effluent |
Wholesaler website |
|
Affinity |
9.6% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anglian |
11.5% |
7.0% |
7.5% |
3.5% |
10.3% |
|
|
Bristol |
6.3% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Northumbrian |
5.6% |
5.9% |
2.2% |
2.8% |
14.2% |
|
|
Portsmouth |
2.2% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Severn Trent |
4.1% |
10.2% |
30.5% |
17.6% |
10.7% |
|
|
South East |
11.3% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Southern |
31.3% |
39.6% |
26.5% |
-6.5% |
21.3% |
|
|
South Staffs |
3.6% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
South West |
12.2% |
0.0% |
55.3% |
17.5% |
15.8% |
|
|
SES |
17.8% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thames |
10.0% |
-3.9% |
|
|
-3.9% |
|
|
United Utilities |
20.6% |
10.5% |
8.7% |
8.7% |
12.1% |
United Utilities Water – UUW (use drop down menu) |
|
Wessex |
-0.8% |
11.1% |
3.7% |
4.0% |
11.1% |
|
|
Yorkshire |
2.5% |
8.69% |
8.9% |
|
8.9% |
|
Indicative 2026/27 price increases by wholesaler - Unmeasured supplies |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wholesaler |
Assessed water |
Unmeasured water |
Assessed sewerage |
Unmeasured sewerage |
Surface water drainage |
Highway drainage |
Wholesaler website |
|
Affinity |
26.3% |
17.2% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anglian |
11.5% |
13.5% |
7.0% |
10.5% |
6.5% |
|
|
|
Bristol |
16.2% |
26.1% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Northumbrian |
|
5.6% |
|
5.9% |
2.2% |
2.8% |
|
|
Portsmouth |
|
7.1% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Severn Trent |
4.1% |
1.5% |
10.2% |
18.5% |
9.1% |
17.6% |
|
|
South East |
11.3% |
11.3% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Southern |
22.6% |
19.4% |
-5.8% |
-6.0% |
22.3% |
-6.5% |
|
|
South Staffs |
3.6% |
3.6% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
South West |
9.2% |
-6.4% |
28.5% |
-1.2% |
55.3% |
55.3% |
|
|
SES |
14.8% |
26.7% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thames |
10.0% |
10.0% |
-3.9% |
-3.9% |
|
|
|
|
United Utilities |
20.6% |
16.2% |
10.5% |
8.7% |
8.7% |
8.6% |
United Utilities Water – UUW (use drop down menu) |
|
Wessex |
6.8% |
-2.4% |
8.0% |
7.8% |
3.2% |
3.6% |
|
|
Yorkshire |
2.5% |
2.5% |
8.9% |
8.9% |
8.9% |
|
|
View last year’s price increases
The final wholesale price increases for England in 2025/26 were published in January 2025. For more information, please click the button below.
Wholesale price increases in England for 2025/26
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