Southern Water boss handed £183,000 bonus despite huge rise in bills

Southern Water supplies water to customers across a large stretch of south-east England, from Hampshire to Kent, as well as the Isle of Wight. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

The chief executive of Southern Water has received a £183,000 bonus despite submitting a business plan that has been criticised by the industry regulator and attempting to raise bills more than any other English water company.

Lawrence Gosden received the bonus as part of a £764,000 pay package, up from £428,000 a year earlier, according to the company’s annual report.