WATER companies in some areas of the country want to increase bills by as much as 30%, according to new pricing plans.
The Consumer Council for Water says that, while some companies have based their plans around what their customers would find acceptable, with price rises as low as the cost of inflation, others have not.
This is the second stage in a price setting process which is due to begin in 2010.
Regulator Ofwat will use the new information to decide the maximum amount water companies will be allowed to raise prices up to 2015.
Reasons given by water companies include higher drinking water standards, higher energy costs, financial pressures, and work needed to protect assets from natural disasters.
