An admirer of Martin Lewis has shared how she managed to slash £400 annually from her water bill.
Jennifer, a reader of MoneySavingExpert.com, revealed how her yearly bill was on track to surpass £800.
Upon discovering information on the MSE website, she explored a water social tariff and learned she could cut her bill by half.
A water social tariff offers discounted rates for water and sewerage services, typically accessible to individuals with low incomes or those receiving benefits.
The specific support options and eligibility criteria vary among water companies, with an estimated 3.8 million households potentially missing out.
In the latest MSE newsletter, Jennifer’s success story came to light. She expressed gratitude, stating, “I was shocked to discover my water bill would exceed £800 annually for a single occupant in a three-bedroom house.
“I was unaware of a social tariff for low-income individuals, but upon reading about it on MSE, I applied and received a 50% reduction. Many thanks.”
For instance, Affinity Water implements a cap on water bills at £143.80 annually, or £95.80 for those receiving council tax support through a social tariff.
To qualify, individuals must earn less than £19,995 excluding benefits or be recipients of specific benefits like Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
South East Water offers the Big Difference tariff, granting a 30% discount on water bills for households with total incomes between £17,000 and £21,000, excluding disability and housing payments.
Households earning less than £17,000 qualify for a 50% reduction. Thames Water provides a 50% discount if the water bill exceeds 5% of the net income through its WaterHelp tariff.
Water bills in England and Wales are set to rise by an average of £33 annually starting from April, representing a 5.4% increase or £2.70 monthly, surpassing the current