Latest news with #watercompanies
Telegraph
a day ago
- Business
- Telegraph
What my train journey from hell tells us about the state of Britain
First world problems? Sure. But ORR data show just 68 per cent of trains between January and March this year ran on time. Delays are a feature, not a bug, of Britain's railways. The Tōkaidō Shinkansen, which connects Tokyo and Osaka, has a 99.5 per cent on-time performance rate. For Brits dependent on Avanti West Coast, 58 per cent of trains will be late. The Left would have you believe that the real issue plaguing our railways is grubby corporations putting profit before customers – even though reintroduction of the profit motive to the railways led to massive investment and a doubling of passenger journeys between 1997 and 2019. The disenchanted public, meanwhile, want lower fares, and assume nationalisation will deliver them, which it won't when our maxed-out government is already paying over half of the running costs of the passenger railway. Labour clearly has no strategy, other than bringing the railways back into public ownership because unions – who will soon realise the DfT's magic money tree has been chopped down – have nagged them for years about it. It's the same with water companies. Simple answers – nationalise, jail greedy directors, force shareholders to repay dividends – offered by those blithely unaware that the only way to improve water is to make consumers or taxpayers fund it. Private enterprise can only invest if they can charge consumers more to recoup the cost; the alternative is higher taxes – and water or rail being put into the queue behind the NHS, housing, net zero, the NHS, schools, the NHS, migrant hotels, the NHS, welfare... though perhaps just ahead of defence and prisons. We'll get another reservoir by 2120, if lucky. 'Anything that's a human right ought to be nationalised', sniffed some Green Party clown on Monday, though he hushed up when it was pointed out our supermarkets function rather well, providing cheap food in abundance. Unlike, for instance, the Soviet collectivisation which triggered mass famine. But such airhead attitudes are characteristic of a political class that believes the private sector ravages whilst the public is starved when the opposite is true. Whoever is in charge, the lazy assumption that there is some solution to our malaise that doesn't involve trade-offs or genuinely tough choices, remain the same. Rather than put deep thought into how we modernise our Victorian water network or outdated railways, they go for the crowd-pleasing re-nationalisation. We see this on a bigger scale with Reform. They're seen as the panacea, the party that can put everything from high taxes to crumbling public services and our defective immigration system back on track. But for now their USP is simply that they're not LibLabCon. Their policies, such as they are, border on risible. 'The risk is that we hear much more about sizeable getting nothing like the same amount of specificity about the big cuts to spending on public services that would be needed for the plan to be implementable,' the IFS quietly cautioned after Nigel Farage's big speech last week. Sadly, no one seems to be listening, in any party. They're too busy imagining more ways to spend, regulate and ban, secretly hoping they won't be the ones in power when the music finally stops.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Climate
- The Sun
UK twice as likely to have glorious summer of sun this year with soaring temperatures and heatwaves, says Met Office
BRITS are in for a glorious treat this summer with soaring temperatures twice as likely. But the Met Office has warned there's also a higher chance of heatwaves on the cards. 5 5 5 This comes after the UK experienced the sunniest spring on record, with around 630 hours of sunshine from March 1 to May 27. It has also been the driest spring in 69 years, which saw some parts of England declared in drought. The Environment Agency imposed the status in the north-west of England after groundwater levels and river flows declined due to the dry conditions in March, April and early May. There are currently no hose pipe bans in force in any part of the UK but earlier this month the Environment Agency warned water companies that more must be done to safeguard water supplies. Water companies are responsible for imposing any water restrictions, such as a hose pipe ban, which can restrict water usage. Companies can enforce a Temporary Use Ban using the guidelines set out in the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. These bans can restrict or prohibit activities like watering gardens and washing cars. A water authority can bring in a ban if it believes it is experiencing, or may experience, a serious shortage of water for distribution across a certain area. It comes as temperatures soared to 8C above the average for the time of year on Saturday. It only proves as an indication of what's to come this summer season. The Met Office's three-month forecast shows it is 2.3 times more likely than normal that the UK will be hot over meteorological summer, which begins on June 1 and ends August 31. Average temperatures across the UK over those months range from 10-17C, with the south east of England experiencing the higher averages of 16-17C. The Met Office said: "While the current three-month outlook shows an increased chance of a hot summer, the temperature signals for this summer are similar to those for recent years and consistent with our warming climate. "The increased chance of hotter than average temperatures is not a guarantee of prolonged hot weather or heatwaves, but it does mean that heatwave conditions could be reached at times. "However, it's important to bear in mind that an increased chance of hot conditions could also reflect a mix of hot and cool days, warm nights, or less extreme levels of warmth rather than continual heatwave conditions specifically." However, the latest predictions suggest rainfall and wind speeds for the next three months will likely be near average. The long-range forecast does not identify weather for a specific day or week but gives an indication of possible temperature, rainfall and wind speed over the period as a whole. How to keep cool in hot weather Most of us welcome hot weather, but when it's too hot, there are health risks. Here are three ways to keep cool according to the NHS... Keep out of the heat if you can. If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter. Cool yourself down. Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes. Keep your living space cool. Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down. Electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35 degrees. Check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep. This comes as Brits have spent the weekend basking in the 26C heat with hundreds flocking down to the beach. UK temperatures soared on Saturday to officially cement this year as the sunniest spring on record. Heathrow in west London peaked at 26.7C which was about 8C hotter than the average in the area for the time of year. The scorching heat also brought with it very high levels of grass pollen in the South East. The final day of May topped off a hot few months in the UK with provisional figures from the Met Office showing 630 hours of sunshine were clocked up between March 1 and May 27. But Sunday showers rained on the weather's parade, with cooler temperatures and raid across much of Britain. It all comes less than a week after Brits were soaked in a washout Bank Holiday Monday. Temperatures dropped to as low as -5C in some regions. Thunderstorms hit across the UK, with one area - in and around the River Mimram in Hertfordshire - being issued with a flood alert. 5 5
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Brace for the 'bathtime tax'… Bigger families face being punished with huge bills as Labour 'backs plans to ramp up charges on high users'
Families have been warned to brace for a 'bathtime tax' as ministers back plans to ramp up costs for higher water users. The government has voiced support for suppliers testing new tariffs that penalise households consuming the most. That could include 'seasonal' charges, meaning water would cost more in the summer. Trials have also been taking place for 'rising block' tariffs, where prices get steeper the more you use. But the Tories warned that the 'punitive' arrangements would deal a hammer blow to young parents, at a time when water costs are rising across the board anyway. Alarm has been sounded over water supplies after the driest start to spring in England for almost 70 years. Companies have been urging the government to get behind variable tariffs, which they argue would cut bills for many households with lower consumption. However, that would almost certainly require smart meters being installed in all homes to provide real-time data on usage. The government has voiced support for suppliers testing new tariffs that penalise households consuming the most Currently only around 12 per cent of households in England are though to have smart meters, with conventional meters far more common. Periodic readings have to be taken from those. Around 60 per cent of homes in England are currently metered, but the vast majority of those have a conventional meter from which periodic readings are taken. The Government estimates that only 12 per cent have smart meters, which are connected to the internet and provide data directly to the utility company. Answering a Parliamentary question from Tory frontbencher Kevin Hollinrake, water minister Emma Hardy said last month: 'This Government supports the innovative approaches being taken to trial new charges aiming to make bills fairer and more affordable. 'All companies plan to trial new charging structures by 2030 and some of them plan to introduce them more widely for additional customers if the trials are successful. 'Companies can design their charges to provide benefits and incentives in a range of ways. 'As the water regulator, Ofwat regulates the charging trials by issuing rules that require companies to set fair charges for all customers, and to ensure all trials are consistent with good practice principles.' Mr Hollinrake said: 'Labour want to levy socialist-inspired tariffs to punish those who have worked hard to improve their homes and gardens. 'This is a Net Zero stealth tax on children's bathtime.' A Government spokesman denied there was any plan to legislate on smart meters or 'progressive' tariffs. 'This is complete nonsense. The Government has no such plans,' the spokeswoman said. A Labour source added: 'This is absolute rubbish from the same Conservative Party that broke our water industry. 'After their rule, water bills skyrocketed and we had record levels of sewage being pumped into our rivers.' Ofwat has previously called on companies to consider charging customers a premium for hot tubs, swimming pools or extensive sprinkler systems. It has also suggested companies look at seasonal charging to help lower bills in winter – or at whether bills could be reduced for homes with water butts and permeable driveways.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
There's nothing progressive about a ‘bath tax'
We will be lectured that it is fairer, better for the environment, and, of course, 'more progressive'. Labour ministers are supporting plans by the water industry to extend metered supply. In effect, very soon you could be forced to pay more for the amount of water you use. The trouble is, there is nothing 'progressive' about that. All it will do is create pockets of 'water poverty', reward the water companies for not repairing the pipes, further punish those who choose to have a bigger family, and, like smart meters, introduce an unworkable technology. We should scrap it before it even starts. The days when you could run a bath, run the washing machine, or water the garden, without worrying about how much water you are using could soon be in the past. The more water you use, the higher the tariff you will have to pay. Very soon, we may have smart meters in the corner of the kitchen, as most of us already do for electricity, gently nagging us not to fill the kettle too much, or ticking us off for running the dishwasher before it is completely full. Every litre will be a guilt trip. We will be told that the bath tax is more 'progressive', with those with the 'broadest shoulders', or simply people who like to stay clean, contributing more to the maintenance of the water network. The trouble is, that is ridiculous. There is nothing 'progressive' about charging for water – a utility we ought to have in abundant supply. It won't just target people who have swimming pools or larger families, but those who live in the countryside where gardens are bigger, or grow their own vegetables, or just happen to like long relaxing baths. It is completely random. Complaints about 'water poverty' are inevitable, and demands for a complex system of rebates and benefits to compensate for the charges. The whole system will add yet another layer of complexity to a government system that is already breaking down. Next, it rewards the water companies for failure. One of the major problems with the system is the amount of water that is lost through leaking pipes (up to 50 per cent on some estimates). Why bother repairing the network, and maintaining it properly, when you can simply whack up the charges for using more water, even if much of it has leaked before getting to you? A fixed rate per property rewards the companies for looking after the network. Metered changes risks rewarding them for negligence. Finally, does anyone really believe that the meters will function properly? We already know that the roll-out of 'smart meters' for electricity has been a fiasco, with ruinous bills imposed when these devices go wrong, and then huge fines if you don't pay on time. Water is harder to meter than electricity. It will be even worse. There is no shortage of water in the UK (in case anyone hadn't noticed, it rains quite often). The real problem is we have not built a new reservoir since 1992, while adding millions of people through mass immigration. Yet another tax won't fix that. It will just be one more huge charge that people who are already struggling with the cost of living will have to pay – and they won't even be able to afford a relaxing bath to calm down after opening the bill. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
There's nothing progressive about a ‘bath tax'
We will be lectured that it is fairer, better for the environment, and, of course, 'more progressive'. Labour ministers are supporting plans by the water industry to extend metered supply. In effect, very soon you could be forced to pay more for the amount of water you use. The trouble is, there is nothing 'progressive' about that. All it will do is create pockets of 'water poverty', reward the water companies for not repairing the pipes, further punish those who choose to have a bigger family, and, like smart meters, introduce an unworkable technology. We should scrap it before it even starts. The days when you could run a bath, run the washing machine, or water the garden, without worrying about how much water you are using could soon be in the past. The more water you use, the higher the tariff you will have to pay. Very soon, we may have smart meters in the corner of the kitchen, as most of us already do for electricity, gently nagging us not to fill the kettle too much, or ticking us off for running the dishwasher before it is completely full. Every litre will be a guilt trip. We will be told that the bath tax is more 'progressive', with those with the 'broadest shoulders', or simply people who like to stay clean, contributing more to the maintenance of the water network. The trouble is, that is ridiculous. There is nothing 'progressive' about charging for water – a utility we ought to have in abundant supply. It won't just target people who have swimming pools or larger families, but those who live in the countryside where gardens are bigger, or grow their own vegetables, or just happen to like long relaxing baths. It is completely random. Complaints about 'water poverty' are inevitable, and demands for a complex system of rebates and benefits to compensate for the charges. The whole system will add yet another layer of complexity to a government system that is already breaking down. Next, it rewards the water companies for failure. One of the major problems with the system is the amount of water that is lost through leaking pipes (up to 50 per cent on some estimates). Why bother repairing the network, and maintaining it properly, when you can simply whack up the charges for using more water, even if much of it has leaked before getting to you? A fixed rate per property rewards the companies for looking after the network. Metered changes risks rewarding them for negligence. Finally, does anyone really believe that the meters will function properly? We already know that the roll-out of 'smart meters' for electricity has been a fiasco, with ruinous bills imposed when these devices go wrong, and then huge fines if you don't pay on time. Water is harder to meter than electricity. It will be even worse. There is no shortage of water in the UK (in case anyone hadn't noticed, it rains quite often). The real problem is we have not built a new reservoir since 1992, while adding millions of people through mass immigration. Yet another tax won't fix that. It will just be one more huge charge that people who are already struggling with the cost of living will have to pay – and they won't even be able to afford a relaxing bath to calm down after opening the bill.
