SCOTTISH WATER has announced its first price rise in four years, with prices going up by 2.8 per cent.
The Government-owned water company says bills in Scotland are still around £50 less than those in England but that the increase in charges is necessary in order to pay for investment in services.
Interim chief executive Douglas Millican said the increased charges were a fair deal for customers in these challenging economic conditions.
He said: “These charges are helping to pay for the current £2.5 billion investment programme which is delivering the investment that Scotland needs in its water infrastructure while providing thousands of construction jobs.
“Millions of people are turning on their taps to clearer, fresher drinking water, enjoying a cleaner environment and receiving improved customer service as a result.”
The rise, from 1 April, means that people living in a band D property will pay £404.46 next year. The average amount customers would pay in 2013-14 is £334, Scottish Water said.
However, the increase was criticised by Labour, who said Scottish families were already struggling to cope with rising costs.
Richard Baker, MSP, said: “Scottish families will be dismayed by this increase which comes on the heels of gas and electricity price rises, making it even more difficult for hard working families to make ends meet.
“There is a strong argument that this increase has come in response to the SNP cutting the budget for Scottish Water. Each small increase in costs combine to create a real and painful squeeze for families which makes for a very unhappy start to 2013 for tens of thousands of Scots.”