Consumer watchdog ups pressure for single social tariff as 20% of hard-up homes struggle with bills

CCW has called for renewed urgency in implementing a single social tariff scheme as it published its annual Water Matters research last week.

The research found a steep rise among the unemployed, students and disabled customers, who said their water bill is unaffordable (one in five), compared to one in ten households more widely. Just over a third of bill payers also said their finances had got worse during the past year, as the cost of living crisis continues to deepen. Those who feel their water charges are fair slipped from 69% to 62%.

CCW is campaigning for a single social tariff scheme to be in place nationwide by April 2025, to provide fair, consistent and sustainable financial help for the 1.5m households across England and Wales living in water poverty.

Elsewhere, Water Matters found overall satisfaction with water services remained high at 91%, but that the number satisfied with their sewerage service fell from 85% to 78%. CCW noted this came against the backdrop of increased scrutiny of the water industry’s use of storm overflows and their impact on river water quality.