Scottish Water to increase 2026/27 charges by 8.67%

(by Karma Loveday)

Scottish Water is to increase charges by 8.67% in nominal terms for the 2026/27 charging year, starting on 1 April.

The average household combined bill will rise by £3.50 a month, or £42 a year, to £532 a year, which the company pointed out is still among the lowest in the UK.

The rise is within WICS’ final determination range for the 2021-27 period, which allows an increase of  CPI+12.6% over the six years. Scottish Water held charges below inflation from 2021/22 to 2024/25 to help customers during Covid and the cost of living crisis. This has reduced its investment programme by around £400m. In 2025/6, Scottish Water announced a 9.9% rise. This year’s pricing will fund £1.2bn of investment in essential maintenance and infrastructure in the face of climate change, growing demand and ageing assets.

Around 53% of households, 1.4m, receive bill support, mostly via Council Tax discounts.

Consumer Scotland head of water, Gail Walker, noted the need to invest and that bills had been held back in previous years, but said: “This is a steep annual increase in water bills for the second year in a row at a time when many households and businesses are already coping with a range of pressures on budgets… this increase highlights ongoing issues of affordability for some consumers and reinforces our concerns over a significant projected rise in water poverty over the next few years.”

2026-7 is the final year of the current price period. Draft plans for 2027-33 could see bills increase in real terms by 26.5%. Walker added: “Consumer Scotland has recommended greater protection for low-income households by increasing existing discounts and by improving targeting to reach consumers who currently miss out on financial support and this latest increase once again highlights the need for urgent action.”