A pensioner from Shoreham has challenged a dramatic surge in his water charges after discovering his projected yearly bill had risen to more than £2,500.
Jonathan Simon, 76, who resides in Frampton Place, submitted a formal complaint to Southern Water following receipt of a projected annual charge standing at £2,544.05.
The figure represented a substantial climb from the £528 payment he settled for the previous year and the £643 amount billed in 2024.
The documentation presented to the retired medical practitioner indicated a daily rate of approximately £7 for an anticipated consumption of 230 litres, a calculation that left the senior citizen perplexed.
In correspondence directed to Southern Water chief executive Lawrence Gosden, the former doctor questioned the methodology behind the figures.
He pointed out that consumption levels of around 231 litres daily had previously resulted in annual charges substantially lower than the current projection.
Customer service representatives had offered conflicting explanations, suggesting his smart meter remained operational correctly while simultaneously maintaining that the stated amount did not reflect his actual billing and that the £6.97 daily figure should not be taken as his current charge.
Dr Simon clarified he was not pursuing financial reimbursement but simply sought clarification regarding the calculation methodology.
Despite numerous telephone calls to the customer service department and multiple electronic mail correspondence, the Shoreham resident reported that no satisfactory explanation had been forthcoming from the utility provider.
Southern Water confirmed it was examining what it described as unusually high consumption data appearing on the account and expressed regret for any worry and upset caused to the customer.
Dr Simon additionally voiced concern regarding the absence of competition within the water supply sector, describing the current situation as indicative of broader systemic problems affecting essential service monopolies.
He observed that without alternative providers available, customers found themselves bound to a single supplier regardless of service quality or pricing concerns.
A representative for Southern Water stated that teams were working to determine the origin of the anomalous consumption information displayed on the online account.
The spokesperson indicated that should any computational discrepancy be discovered, appropriate corrections would be applied to ensure accurate billing reflecting actual usage.