Tom Gordon, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, once again slams Yorkshire Water for Customer rebate

Tom Gordon, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, is once again calling out Yorkshire Water for their failings following the latest news that the company will be returning £36 million to its customers as rebates, due to their failure to deliver services properly.

While £36 million may sound substantial, it amounts to a mere few pounds off next year’s bills – barely making a dent in the projected £94 increase per household over the next five years. The rebate is being called for as a result of the company’s failings to deliver the services customers are paying for. 

The disappointing rebate comes as part of industry regulator Ofwat demanding that water companies return £158 million to customers due to poor performance. Yorkshire Water, notorious for its sewage dumping, was ordered to pay back the third-largest sum. Ofwat revealed that in 2023, the company discharged untreated wastewater into the region’s river for an alarming seven hours a day on average.

Tom said:

“This £36 million rebate is another slap in the face to Yorkshire Water customers, who can expect less than a £10 reduction on their bills next year after years of relentless price hikes, whilst still not getting the service that they are paying for. 

“It’s outrageous that while Yorkshire Water’s customers are being squeezed, the company’s leadership continues to line their pockets with bonuses.

“The company’s focus on profits over people and the environment is unacceptable and must change. We must see a ban on executive bonuses at Yorkshire Water. To hand out bonuses whilst these failures continue would be wrong.

“Yorkshire Water needs to stop hiding behind excuses and start making the necessary investments to fix their crumbling infrastructure. Their customers deserve so much more.”

ENDS