A Martin Lewis fan shared how she managed to reduce her yearly water bill by £400.
Jennifer, a reader of MoneySavingExpert.com, mentioned that her annual bill was set to exceed £800.
Upon learning about water social tariffs on the MSE website, she explored the option and discovered a potential 50% reduction in her bill.
A water social tariff offers discounted rates for water and sewerage services, typically catering to individuals with low incomes or those receiving benefits.
Eligibility criteria for support and the type of assistance provided vary among water companies, potentially leaving around 3.8 million households without access to such benefits.
The success story of Jennifer was featured in the latest MSE newsletter, where she expressed gratitude for discovering the social tariff and securing a 50% reduction in her bill.
For instance, Affinity Water limits water bills to £143.80 annually or £95.80 for those receiving council tax support as part of their social tariff scheme.
To qualify for such benefits, individuals must have an income below £19,995 (excluding benefits) or be recipients of specific benefits like Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
South East Water offers the Big Difference tariff, providing a 30% discount if household income (excluding disability and housing payments) falls between £17,000 and £21,000. Those with incomes below £17,000 receive a 50% reduction.
Thames Water’s WaterHelp tariff offers a 50% discount if the water bill exceeds 5% of the individual’s net income.
Water bills in England and Wales are expected to increase by an average of £33 yearly starting from April, representing a 5.4% rise, which is above the current inflation rate of 3.4%.
Regulator Ofwat has granted water companies permission to raise average bills by 36% over a five-year period until 2030 to support a £104 billion investment program aimed at infrastructure improvements and preventing sewage spills.
Although switching water companies is not possible, there are ways to save money, such as reducing water usage, which can significantly impact the bill.
Simple actions like shortening shower times by a minute and turning off taps when not in use can contribute to savings. Additionally, individuals can explore free water-saving devices available through Save Water Save Money, including flow-regulating shower heads and tap inserts.
Consider getting a water meter, as suggested