WATER giant United Utilities says number of complaints it has received from customers has dropped by 65 per cent in the past three years.

But Bolton’s chief water supplier still receives a high number of customer complaints regarding billing, according to a report from the Consumer Council for Water (CCW).

Bolton North East MP David Crausby, who has called for energy companies to charge fairer tariffs, said consumers still pay too much for water and the standard of service provided has dropped since privatisation.

United Utilities — which has water treatment plants in and around Bolton and which maintains reservoirs such as Entwistle, Jumbles and the Wayoh — said the drop in complaints was an “encouraging trend”.

Mr Crausby said: “I think if you ask members of the public what they make of water services they would say they have got worse rather than better since being privatised.

“All these companies have no competition and feel they can do exactly what they want, which is unacceptable.

“I don’t get a huge number of complaints about water services but members of the public say that the cost has become outrageous for something that used to be included in the rates.”

In total, there were 39,004 written complaints in 2010/11, compared with 13,639 in the previous 12 months, amounting to a 65 per cent reduction.

On the high number of billing complaints highlighted in the report, United Utilities said: “We’re listening and taking action on billing complaints. We are rolling out a new meter which should make a big difference.”

Gary Dixon, from United Utilities said: “Delivering for our customers is my number one priority.

“We have concent-rated on making sure bills are correct, resolving issues first time and being easy to do business with.

“In the last 12 months we have invested £836 million improving pipes in the ground and the quality of water from customers’ taps.”

The regulator’s report showed that for the first time no complaints were referred for investigation about United Utilities, who provide services to about seven million people in the North West.