April price hikes – which household bills are going up this spring?

Households will be hit with a series of bill increases from this month across everything from council tax to energy. How big are the hikes and are there ways to save money?

Woman reading a bill and managing her personal finances
The cost of living is set to rise significantly in April
(Image credit: Getty Images)

A series of household bills have gone up this month, from energy and water bills to council tax, adding hundreds of pounds to the cost of living.

Many major bills are increased each April and this year is no different.

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Annual average bill changes (water and wastewater companies), 2025-2026

Water and wastewater companies

2024-25

2025-26

Change (£)

Change (%)

Anglian Water

£527

£626

£99

19%

Dŵr Cymru (Welsh Water)

£503

£639

£136

27%

Hafren Dyfrdwy

£447

£590

£143

32%

Northumbrian Water

£426

£506

£79

19%

Severn Trent Water

£457

£556

£99

22%

South West Water (south west region)

£520

£686

£166

32%

Southern Water

£478

£703

£224

47%

Thames Water

£488

£639

£151

31%

United Utilities

£486

£598

£112

23%

Wessex Water

£556

£669

£113

20%

Yorkshire Water

£467

£602

£136

29%

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Annual average bill changes (water-only companies), 2025-2026

Water-only companies

2024-25

2025-26

Change (£)

Change (%)

Affinity Water (central region)

£192

£235

£43

23%

Affinity Water (east region)

£225

£278

£53

24%

Affinity Water (south east region)

£249

£291

£43

17%

Bournemouth Water

£144

£191

£47

32%

Bristol Water

£226

£234

£9

4%

Essex and Suffolk Water

£286

£318

£32

11%

Portsmouth Water

£120

£150

£30

25%

South East Water

£245

£294

£49

20%

South Staffs Water (Cambridge region)

£163

£203

£40

24%

South Staffs Water (South Staffs region)

£178

£224

£46

26%

Sutton and East Surrey (SES) Water

£254

£249

-£5

-2%

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Period of essentials to cover

Amount of savings you needed previously

Amount of savings you now need (post-price hikes)

Extra savings needed

3 months

£6,186

£6,334

£148

6 months

£12,372

£12,669

£297

1 year

£24,744

£25,337

£593

3 years

£74,232

£76,012

£1,780

Katie Williams
Staff Writer

Katie has a background in investment writing and is interested in everything to do with personal finance, politics, and investing. She enjoys translating complex topics into easy-to-understand stories to help people make the most of their money.

Katie believes investing shouldn’t be complicated, and that demystifying it can help normal people improve their lives.

Before joining the MoneyWeek team, Katie worked as an investment writer at Invesco, a global asset management firm. She joined the company as a graduate in 2019. While there, she wrote about the global economy, bond markets, alternative investments and UK equities.

Katie loves writing and studied English at the University of Cambridge. Outside of work, she enjoys going to the theatre, reading novels, travelling and trying new restaurants with friends.

With contributions from