Households could cut their water bill by up to 90% with new support fund – are you eligible?
STRUGGLING households could wipe up to 90% off an essential household bill thanks to a new support fund.
Low-income families have been hit hard by rising bills, including up to £36 a year for water costs in a blow to struggling households.
Water Bills have increased by 1.7% or £7 a year on average from April, according to WaterUK.
But some parts of the UK have seen above inflation rises, including Essex and Suffolk, where the average bill went up from £223 to £246 a year.
Earlier this year, , the water regulator, called on firms to provide support for customers struggling to pay their bills amidst the cost-of-living crisis.
And today, Severn Trent Water has launched a support package to cut water bills by up to 90% for a further 100,000 its cash-strapped customers as part of .
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The scheme is solely for Severn Trent Water customers, but other water companies offer similar schemes, including and .
To find your local water company, click here.
Severn Trent Water previously unveiled a £30million fund to help those on low incomes, adding to its existing scheme supporting 215,000 customers in need.
But it also said research suggests another 100,000 customers in its area are set to fall into so-called water poverty with finances stretched by soaring energy bills and living costs.
A study carried out by management consultants CEPA suggests 6.5% of households - around 1.5 million - are already in water poverty, meaning they spend more than 5% of their total income after housing costs on water bills.
The cost crunch is expected to see more people struggle to pay their bills, with inflation predicted to hit over 10% later this year.
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Liv Garfield, Severn Trent chief executive, said: "As cost-of-living pressures continue to rise, we're acting now to support people struggling to pay their bills.
"Our customers have the second-lowest bill in the UK, at around £1 per day, but we know that for some, paying this remains a challenge.";
"We don't want anybody in our region feeling nervous about their water bill arriving," she added.
The Big Difference Scheme can offer a reduction of water bills to any Severn Trent customer with a household income below £16,480.
You can apply to the scheme
will make an assessment to determine how big a reduction you as a customer will be able to get.
The scheme runs for 12 months at a time and households will have to apply again at the end of each year-long period.
Severn Trent Water is the UK's second-biggest water firm, serving 4.8 million homes and businesses in England and Wales, stretching from mid-Wales to Rutland and from north and mid-Wales south to the Bristol Channel and east to the Humber.
David Black, chief executive of regulator Ofwat, said: "No-one should have to choose between paying for water and paying for food."
He called on other firms in the sector to 'do more to respond to the cost-of-living worries'.
Details of Severn Trent's fund were announced alongside its full-year results showing underlying pre-tax profits rising 7.5% to £508 million.
But the firm also laid bare the increase in its own costs from soaring inflation, revealing an extra £50 million in energy bills.
What other water bill help can you get?
Unlike energy companies, you can't shop around for a new water supplier and are left with whoever provides the supply in your area.
But low-income households may still be able to reduce their water bills.
Lower income families can apply to the WaterSure scheme to save hundreds of pounds on their bill each year.
If you claim Universal Credit or a number of other benefits, you may be able to cap your water bill as well.
Suppliers also offer their own schemes, such as the Yorkshire Water and Thames Water schemes.
Some suppliers may even offer to reduce or wipe your debt as well if you're struggling to pay your water bills.
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Yorkshire Water, for example, offers awards to customers who are in arrears of between £50 and £2,000 to help them pay off their debt.
While South East Water will also offer grants to those in debt under its Helping Hand scheme - your debt must have been built up over a number of years.
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