Water Complaints Surge 84%, Affecting Thames (THGED) and Others

Complaints about water companies to the Consumer Council for Water rose 84% year-on-year, reaching 15,115 in 2025-26 from 8,235 in the prior year. Households, frustrated by rising bills and service issues, raised complaints directly to companies by 56%, totaling 321,347. Ofwat approved a 36% bill increase across the sector between 2025 and 2030 to support infrastructure. Thames Water customers experienced a 31% rise in 2024, followed by a smaller increase of 3.4% recently. This surge in complaints matters for investors as it indicates rising customer dissatisfaction that could affect company reputations and market performance, particularly for Thames (THGED).