Household water bills in England and Wales will fall by an average of 5% - not including inflation - by 2020, the regulator Ofwat has ruled.
This would see average bills fall in real terms by about £20 from £396 to £376.
However, consumers will still pay more, as the companies are allowed to add on inflation, as measured by RPI.
RPI is typically higher than CPI inflation, and is currently running at 2.3% a year.
Nevertheless the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) said it was good news for consumers.
"Most water companies and the regulator have listened to customers and delivered a deal which reflects the services they want, at a price most find acceptable," said Tom Smith, the chief executive of the CCW.
Customers 'get more'"Start Quote
End Quote Cathryn Ross Ofwat chief executiveWith bills held down by 5% and service driven up over the next five years, customers will get more and pay less"
After two years of deliberations, Ofwat has now determined the levels at which all 18 water and sewerage companies can set their prices for the five-year period beginning in April 2015.
Ofwat had already set price terms for most firms, but three outstanding companies - Thames Water, United Utilities and Bristol Water - have now had their charges determined alongside the others.
Thames has been told it will have to cut charges by 5% in real terms, United Utilities must cut by 3%, and Bristol Water - a water-only company - must cut charges by 21%.
Ofwat said the ruling will allow water companies to invest £44bn over the next five years, or £2,000 per household.
"With bills held down by 5% and service driven up over the next five years, customers will get more and pay less," said Cathryn Ross, Ofwat chief executive.
For water and sewage charges, Anglian customers will see the greatest percentage drop in yearly bills, down 10% to an average of £390 by 2019-20.
Northumbrian customers will see the smallest change in their bills, dropping 1% to £382.
The main factor behind Ofwat ordering a drop in bills has been the sustained period in low interest rates.
This has allowed water companies to borrow much more cheaply for infrastructure projects, which are among their main costs.
Changes in Water Bills 2015 to 2019 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Company | Average bill by 2019, before RPI | Average change, before RPI |
|
Anglian |
£390 |
-10% |
|
Dwr Cymru |
£416 |
-5% |
|
Northumbrian (incl. Essex and Suffolk) |
£382 |
-1% |
|
Severn Trent |
£316 |
-5% |
|
Southern |
£403 |
-8% |
|
South West |
£506 |
-7% |
|
Thames |
£353 |
-5% |
|
United Utilities |
£398 |
-3% |
|
Wessex |
£442 |
-9% |
|
Yorkshire |
£361 |
-3% |
|
Water only companies |
||
|
Affinity |
£163 |
-7% |
|
Bristol |
£202 |
-21% |
|
Dee Valley |
£149 |
-2% |
|
Portsmouth |
£96 |
-1% |
|
Bournemouth |
£134 |
-12% |
|
South East |
£194 |
-3% |
|
South Staffs (incl. Cambridge) |
£135 |
-4% |
|
Sutton and East Surrey |
£180 |
-3% |
|
NATIONAL AVERAGE ENGLAND AND WALES |
£376 |
-5% |
|
source: Ofwat |
||
Companies have two months to accept Ofwat's decision, or seek a referral to the Competition and Markets Authority.
Both Thames Water and United Utilities said they would look at the ruling carefully before coming to a decision.
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