AROUND one in three people in Berkshire could be eligible for reductions on their water bills, providers have said.
After new water tariffs came into effect this week, as part of a slew of bills which will see caps put in place, research by Thames Water shows that many could be getting help with water bills.
Customers whose water bill is more than five per cent of their equivalised net income could qualify for a 50 per cent discount under Thames Water’s WaterHelp scheme.
Research by the provider shows that just under 30% of customers could be eligible, with some eligible for as much as 50% in discounts.
Households with a water meter could have their bills capped with Thames Water’s WaterSure social tariff.
To qualify, someone in the household must receive a means-tested benefit and have either a medical condition that requires extra water, or three or more children under the age of 19 living at the property making them eligible for child benefits.
Elsewhere, Thames Water offers Water Direct, a programme which helps customers in receipt of benefits who are falling behind on bills through consolidation.
Thames Water also matches all payments made towards the arrears and at the end of the two-year plan, clears any remaining arrears.
Nina White, Director of Income at Thames Water, said: “Our purpose is to deliver life’s essential service, and we are determined to support customers who are struggling to pay their household bills.
“Our research shows that two-thirds of respondents are more concerned about balancing their household budgets and bills than they were before the start of the 2022 cost-of-living crisis.
“Thames Water has made great strides by targeting our support proactively working with third parties and using data, including in our pilot auto-enrolment scheme in London, and this has seen the expansion of the number of people we are helping year-on-year.
“We encourage any customer worried about their ability to pay to contact us so we can help find the right support package for their circumstances.”
Thames Water’s Extra Care team can help find support for customers struggling to pay, including checking eligibility for help schemes and providing advice.
Further details are at thameswater.co.uk/help-paying
