United Utilities’ financial statements show that the company’s operational profits were £631.5 million for the year ending March 2025, this was a 31.5 per cent increase on the £480.2 million the year before.
Operational profits reflect the amount made before tax is deducted.
Shareholders in the water company typically make a four per cent return on their money.
UU therefore paid out £226.3 million to equity holders in 2025, an increase of more than £20 million on the £206.9 million paid in 2024.
It follows heavy criticism for Cumbrian political figures over the discharge of untreated sewage into the county’s waterways while customers expect to see a 32 per cent rise in water bills by 2030.
Although outflows are permitted to prevent the flooding of homes and businesses during periods of heavy rainfall, Member of Parliament for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron and Cumberland Councillor Joseph Ghayouba are two of the political figures challenging water bosses over their impact on the environment.
A spokesperson for UU said that an increase in customers’ water bills is necessary to help cover the costs of its £13 billion infrastructure improvement programme.
They said: “We’re making great progress on delivering the biggest investment in water and wastewater infrastructure for more than 100 years across the North West.”
Improvements are set to expand the capacity of UU’s facilities, reducing the need for storm outflows as they will be less likely to become overwhelmed in heavy rainfall.
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The company spokesperson said: “This historic investment will deliver the step change that customers have told us they want to see and allow us to safeguard drinking water supplies, help reduce leakage and sewer flooding and protect and enhance more than 500km of rivers and bathing waters.
“Increasing the level of investment in our region means that bills also need to increase.”
They said: “We do understand that any increase is unwelcome and we are providing more than £500 million in financial support to help customers who may struggle with their payments.”
The average United Utilities annual water bill was £486 in the 2024/25 financial year, this rose by £112, or 23 per cent, to £598 in 2025/26.
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