Mike Keil, chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water, said: “Customers of Thames Water are already facing steep bill rises and they will be incensed the company now has the temerity to pursue an even larger increase.
The company has already been allowed a 35% rise in consumer bills over the next five years by water regulator Ofwat, after Thames had previously lobbied for a 59% hike.
Thames Water is asking the competition regulator to allow it to charge customers even more over the coming years than had previously been granted.
It comes after Ofwat launched an investigation into Thames Water over concerns it will not complete more than 100 environmental schemes funded by customers.
He said Ofwat’s current allowance will “impact our ability” to fund the improvements needed to its vast network of pipes, sewers and drains, which are creaking from a severe lack of investment over recent decades.
