Water bills should be reduced For those struggling to do basics with a new ‘social tariff’, the major charitables have told the government.
In a letter to newly appointed environment secretary Emma Reynolds, the group warned that low-income people should be supported to bear the cost of water, Average bill is expected to increase This year by £ 603 – 26 percent increase from 2024.
Elderly People’s Charity Independent Edge, Coordinated including Signing TrauselEmotion, and Martin Lewis Charity Money and Mental Health says that a social water tariff “will ensure that more people are able to reach the necessary water without excessive sacrifice.”
This remedy provides constant financial assistance to low -income people who are able to buy them. Water Bill, effectively testing them. Most of the families in the UK saw an increase in their water bills in April, placing a hiking ahead in the next five years.
The rising costs are forcing people to “resort to desperate to” cheat strategies “, such as avoiding flushing the toilet, cutting back on laundry and bathing less frequently, warning the letter. It urges Ms. Reynolds to start consultation on a social tariff as soon as possible.
Independent age research found that 42 percent of older people are struggling to keep it on top of the water bill on low income, which is expected to live in 750,000 water. povertyIt can grow up to about one million by 2029 without any action, it is said in donations.
78 -year -old Judith Howard of London said: “A national water social tariff will change my life to improve my life.
“I have stopped taking a bath and simply used my basin to wash myself, I do not have a shower and can’t take the risk of putting one in one. My washing machine is very expensive to run the machine, I will now have to do all my clothes wash on laundry, which is a bus ride. I have also reduced many times.
Independent age Chief Executive Joanna Elson said: “The water bills are set to increase in the coming years and without intervention from the UK government, there will be a huge increase in the number of older people living in water poverty. A national water social tariff in England and Wales will protect people living on low income. It’s time to build a fair water system, because we do not have to ration a fair cost”
According to conclusions, civil advice shows that one of the about five houses Last year struggled to pay his water bill, A social water along with charity is also calling for tariff.
Under the current rules, all water companies offer a social tariff, but the range of help is a “postcode lottery” Donation Say, as it is introduced, vary greatly among the providers.
In July, the Independent Water Commission recommended the introduction of a national social tariff for water in England. “This will currently help to address various levels widely of support,” it told the government, “with a cap on different parts of different parts of the country -with cap on bills.”
A Diffra spokesperson said: “We are taking decisive action to clean the rivers, lakes and seas of England for good, and protect families from the bill hike on a large scale.”
“Under this government, the number of customers receiving help with its bills through social tariffs has increased – from 4% to 9%. We are working with industry to ensure that weakened customers support support schemes under reviews to support.”