Thames Water Faces Backlash Over Financial Bailout and Rising Bills

The utility company secures a £3 billion loan to avoid collapse, prompting criticism over debt management and service failures.

Thames Water has secured a £3 billion loan to address its £19.5 billion debt and maintain operations, with an initial £1.5 billion tranche approved until September 2025.
Customers express anger over plans to increase bills by more than 35% and ongoing issues such as sewage dumping and burst pipes.
Campaign groups are organizing mass non-payment protests, claiming the company prioritizes investor profits over infrastructure improvements.
A High Court ruling favored Class A creditors for the bailout, but the decision raised concerns about high fees and potential future nationalization if restructuring fails.
Critics, including customers and campaigners, are calling for Thames Water to be brought back into public ownership to ensure accountability and better service delivery.