A supporter of Martin Lewis shared how she managed to reduce her annual water bill by £400. Jennifer, a reader of MoneySavingExpert.com, discovered her bill was due to rise to over £800 per year. Upon learning about water social tariffs on the MSE website, she investigated and found she could slash her bill by 50%.
Water social tariffs offer discounted rates on water and sewerage charges, typically accessible to individuals with low incomes or those receiving benefits. Despite variations in support and eligibility criteria among water companies, an estimated 3.8 million households are missing out on these benefits.
Jennifer’s success story was highlighted in the latest MSE newsletter. By applying for a social tariff after reading about it on MSE, she secured a 50% reduction, expressing gratitude for the newfound savings.
Various water companies offer assistance through social tariffs. For instance, Affinity Water limits water bills to £143.80 annually, or £95.80 if one receives council tax support. To qualify, individuals must have an income below £19,995 excluding benefits or be claiming specific benefits like Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
South East Water’s Big Difference tariff provides a 30% discount for households with a total income between £17,000 and £21,000, increasing to a 50% reduction for incomes below £17,000. Thames Water offers a 50% discount if the water bill exceeds 5% of the net income through its WaterHelp tariff.
In April, water bills in England and Wales are set to increase by an average of £33 annually, representing a 5.4% hike, surpassing the current inflation rate of 3.4%. Regulator Ofwat previously permitted water companies to raise average bills by 36% by 2030 to fund a £104 billion investment program for infrastructure and sewage spill prevention.
While switching water companies is not an option, there are ways to save money, such as conserving water. Simple actions like reducing shower time and turning off taps when not in use can lead to significant savings. Additionally, free water-saving devices can be obtained from Save Water Save Money, including water-flow-regulating shower heads and tap inserts.
Consider installing a water meter, as suggested by Martin Lewis, especially if your house has more bedrooms than occupants, as it could result in cost savings.
