I write regarding the monopoly Anglian Water.  As you may well know during April, 2011 Anglian Water with the apparent approbation of Ofwat increased their charges to customers by 6.4% (Well over inflation.),and according to the BBC awarded a 4,6% pay increase to their employees. No mention was made of the pay rises to management or bonuses.  

The pension increase at this time was 3.2%. and many workers were denied pay rises.  It is also common knowledge that hundreds of elderly pensioners are dying as a result of having to decide whether to "Eat or Heat", also parents  are finding it difficult to adequately provide for their families during this tough economic crisis.  

We are now informed that again with the apparent approbation of Ofwat, the monopoly Anglian Water are about to further increase their prices to customers by 5.4%w with effect from 1st April, 2012.  Once again this increase is far above inflation and will mean that water consumers in the Anglian Region will see a price increase of over 12% in the last 12 months. 

With fuel prices consumers can shop around but with the Water Companies, having a monopoly, their choice is your choice, like it or not.  Water Company Share prices are a reflection of their desirability as financial investments.  Consumers, unlike the Banks, are not informed of Bonuses or salaries paid to Managers of such companies.  Unlike any other bills sent to consumers, are invariably guessed they do not represent accurately the amount of water used and  for which payment is now demanded,  I do not know why such monopolies are permitted to send out such bills, perhaps it is because they are a monopoly.

I would like to know why is it when the whole of the Country is suffering from a tough economic crisis, Water Companies are cushioned and exempt?  I would also like to know why it did not occur to Ofwat, realising the current financial market and the harm it was piling upon the elderly and families, that above inflation pay rises accompanied by improving equipment and environment improvement could not have been planned over extended periods.  In many cases these unwarranted increases will be viewed as financial extortion since customers have no redress.