A SCHEME aimed at helping people affected by the cost of living crisis pay their water bills has been expanded.
Thames Water’s social tariff, WaterHelp, supported 383,000 customers last year, up from 329,000 the previous year.
Now, the company says eligible customers can receive up to 50% discount on their annual bill.
The enhanced tariff comes after a year-long trial with the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) to better understand those impacted by the cost-of-living challenge.
The enhanced tariff reflects feedback from customers and helps those that need it most and compares a customer’s water bills with their income, alongside how many people live in their property.
Customers whose bill is more than 5% of their net income, taking into account the number of individuals per household, may be eligible for the scheme.
A second scheme is the WaterSure tariff and is for those on a means tested benefit, on a meter, and have a medical condition who require extra or use more water than average due to a large family.
Nina White, director of Financial Customer Care at Thames Water, said: “We know the cost-of-living is taking its toll on families, which is why we’ve enhanced our WaterHelp tariff to help even more people. The changes will support customers with larger households, and provide grants to families who have bills outstripping the money coming in.
“The Thames Water Extra Care team is on hand to advise customers of their options and can help them make the best decisions for them regarding their bill. We want customers to know they are not alone, and we are here to help.
“We’d urge anyone to get in touch and together we can help work out a plan suitable for them.”
And Andy White, senior leader for social policy at the Consumer Council for Water, said: “It’s vital the financial support offered by water companies reaches those who need it most which is why we support Thames Water’s enhanced WaterHelp criteria.
“We know many low-income customers don’t expect to receive financial help from their water company so it’s really important the company raises awareness of this support and people don’t hesitate to get in touch with Thames Water if they are struggling to pay.”
Customers can find out more about their eligibility for both tariffs and support available by visiting the Thames Water website.
