Water bills must be means-tested with new tariff, leading charities urge
Government urged to make key change to water bills
- Leading charities have urged the government to introduce a national "social tariff" for water bills to support low-income households.
- In a letter to Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds, the groups highlighted that the average water bill is expected to rise by 26 per cent to £603 this year.
- Organisations including Independent Age, Trussell, Sense, and Money and Mental Health warn that rising costs are forcing people to make "extreme sacrifices" like rationing water usage.
- Research by Independent Age indicates that 42 per cent of older people on low incomes struggle with water bills, with 750,000 estimated to be in "water poverty."
- A national social tariff aims to replace the current "postcode lottery" of support, ensuring consistent financial aid for those who cannot afford essential water services.