Affinity has cut its proposed spending for PR24 after admitting that it would be “challenging for a small but significant proportion of customers”.
The company had previously planned to spend £2.55 billion between 2025-2030, however they have cut that figure to £2.12 billion after concerns were raised by customers.
The revised figure represents an increase its spending of19%.
Its new plans will see bills rise by 13% compared to 2025 levels to £216.96. Affinity will be increasing the social tariff cross subsidy to £9.50 and plans to increase the number of customers benefitting to up to 150,000 by 2030.
Affinity will be focussing on reducing unsustainable abstraction during PR24, which will involve delivering a £78 million leakage reduction programme. The company says this investment should reduce leakage rates by 22.4 million litres per day, or 31% by 2029-30.
It also wants to deliver an investment programme that reduces the water taken from chalk aquifers by 35 million litres per day in the next five years. It also plans to reduce individual demand for water by 16% and will be installing 400,000 smart meters to one third of all its customers to help reduce their usage.
Affinity will also be delivering a £76 million package of water quality treatment upgrades to improve water quality.
Director of regulation and strategy, Liv Walton said: “We are on track to deliver the some of the largest percentage reductions in leakage in the water industry, we are maintaining industry leading performance in providing high-quality water and we continue to reduce disruption for customers caused by supply interruptions and step-up support for those who may be struggling through help with their bills.
“We are delivering on all of our environmental commitments through river restoration schemes, biodiversity improvements and taking less from the environment.
“However, we know there is much more we need to do and our Business Plan 2025-2030 is the next step of our journey to go further and faster than ever before.”