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Low income households need more help to pay future water bills, Consumer Scotland urges

by Karma Loveday

Low income households need more protection from future rises in water bills, Consumer Scotland has said. 


The statutory customer watchdog pointed out that Scottish consumers are likely to face above-inflationary increases in the next price period, 2027-33, as Scottish Water responds to the twin challenges posed by the climate crisis and ageing water infrastructure.


Currently, one in ten Scottish households are in water poverty, and one in 20 are in severe water poverty – facing charges for water and sewerage that exceed 5% of their disposable income. These proportions would rise in the next period without action.


Consumer Scotland made three principle recommendations in a new report, Affordability of water and sewerage charges – the outlook for water poverty in Scotland: 

  • Boost the maximum discount available under the existing Water Charges Reduction Scheme (WCRS) from 35% to 50% throughout the 2027/33 period. It said this would lift 13,000 households out of water poverty and make bills more affordable for 500,000 households who receive the reduction. The cost would be £22m, which would be funded by the wider customer base adding £8 a year to bills.

  • For those who miss out on the WCRS, the Scottish Government should consider a new temporary ‘by-application’ scheme, also by 2027, to help others in water poverty.

  • Because neither of these schemes would in themselves target everyone who may experience water poverty, Consumer Scotland said comprehensive long-term reform is also required.

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