South Wales Central MS Andrew RT Davies has called for water bosses’ pay to be linked to performance after it was revealed people in most parts of Wales are facing a 27% increase in their water bills from April.
The average annual bill will go up from £503 to £639, in the start of a five-year period of bill increases.
Welsh Water has previously admitted illegally spilling untreated sewage for years, and were ordered to pay over £24 million in 2024 by Ofwat for underperformance.
Davies has pointed to the £322,000 salary of in 2022 of Welsh Water boss Peter Perry as an example of top salaries at the water firm that need to be reigned in.
Andrew RT Davies MS, Senedd Member for South Wales Central and former Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said:
“These bill rises are going to put unbelievable pressure on hard-pressed households.
“It’s frankly unacceptable that in a modern country, people are having to stump up these sums just to have clean, running water, while the prize of unpolluted waterways still looks a long way off.
“Water bosses are paid far too much considering the outcomes we’re seeing on water bills and in our water quality, so it’s time we see performance-related pay for the top brass so they really have skin in the game.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Welsh Water bills to rise annually for five years.