Consumer watchdog calls for single social tariffs by April 2025
CCW has called for a single social tariff to be launched no later than April 2025, in time for the start of the next price control period.
It set down the challenge, which will require new legislation, as it published a report charting the progress that has been made over the past year in delivering the proposals set out in its independent review of water affordability on behalf of the UK and Welsh governments.
Chief executive, Emma Clancy, said: “The cost of living crisis has raised the stakes for the water sector and both governments to make sure we put in place a new water affordability scheme that ends the current patchwork of help across England and Wales. It’s within our grasp and we cannot afford to miss this opportunity.”
More widely, the report was very positive in documenting that six of ten key recommendations had been implemented, and that the water sector had implemented 26 of the 40 more detailed actions recommended in the affordability review.
Some of the changes include:
new bill guarantees to give people the confidence to make the switch to a water meter, helping them access typical savings of around £50 each – overall savings could be worth £48m;
additional benefit checks to help maximise the income of some households – unlocking thousands of pounds in unclaimed benefits, the value to households could be as much as £24m;
Water UK and water companies strengthening data-sharing agreements, so companies can more easily identify customers who could qualify for financial help; and
Ofwat updating its Paying Fair guidance to water companies to ensure debt support more closely reflects a customer’s individual circumstances. Ofwat is also working on developing a new customer-focused condition for water companies’ licences – requiring companies to consider affordability and vulnerability across all of their operations.
CCW challenged the sector to work towards adopting the remaining actions from its review and to use their own profits to enhance support for customers struggling to stay afloat.
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