A supporter of Martin Lewis shared how she managed to slash £400 annually from her water bill. Jennifer, a reader of MoneySavingExpert.com, detailed how her yearly bill was on track to exceed £800. Upon discovering advice on the MSE website, she explored a water social tariff and discovered she could reduce her bill by half.
A water social tariff is a discounted rate for water and sewerage services typically available to low-income individuals or those receiving benefits. The specifics of the support and eligibility criteria vary among water companies, with an estimated 3.8 million households potentially missing out on these benefits.
Jennifer’s success story was featured in the latest MSE newsletter. She expressed her gratitude after applying for the social tariff and receiving a 50% reduction on her bill. For instance, Affinity Water offers a capped bill of £143.80 annually, or £95.80 with council tax support.
To qualify for these discounts, individuals must have an income below £19,995, excluding benefits, or be recipients of certain benefits like Universal Credit or Pension Credit. Various water companies, such as South East Water and Thames Water, provide different discount schemes based on income thresholds.
Water bills in England and Wales are set to increase by an average of £33 per year starting this April, representing a 5.4% rise. The industry regulator allowed water companies to raise average bills by 36% over a five-year period to fund a £104 billion investment program for infrastructure and environmental protection.
While switching water providers is not an option, there are ways to save money on water bills, such as reducing water usage and exploring free water-saving devices. Installing a water meter can also lead to savings, especially if there are more bedrooms than occupants in a household.
