This year, around 60,000 low-income households across Yorkshire will benefit from discounted water bills, thanks to Yorkshire Water’s WaterSupport social tariff. However, the average water bill in Yorkshire is projected to skyrocket by £135 (28.9%) in 2025/26, which equates to about an additional £11 per month.
Fortunately, customers who are eligible can tap into further assistance through schemes like Water Sure that limit charges for those on income-related benefits and consuming more water. Moreover, Yorkshire Water is set to offer debt repayment plans such as Resolve, Community Trust, and Direct Support, expected to slash bills by a whopping £375 million and aid in clearing debts between 2025 and 2030.
Angie Markham-Nock, Yorkshire Water’s affordability strategy manager, emphasized: “The next five years are really important for us, for the environment, and for our customers, as we deliver an £8.3billion investment programme to help us meet expectations and regulatory requirements. We know that some of our customers are struggling with their bills, and will find increases to bills unmanageable, and this is why we’ve built additional financial support into our plans.”
She advocateed strongly for those feeling the pinch: “We would strongly encourage anybody who feels that they will be unable to manage the upcoming bill increases to take a look at the financial support schemes we have available on our website and get in touch with us, so that we can open the conversation and see what we can do for them.”
Customers across England and Wales are buckling up for a significant spike in their annual water bill as an average increase of £123 or 26% is set to kick in from April. The sharp uptick, confirmed by Water UK, will see the typical water and wastewater charges leap from £480 to £603 for the forthcoming year, roughly translating to an additional £10 per month, as reported by the Mirror.
David Henderson, Chief Executive of Water UK, remarked: “We understand increasing bills is never welcome and, while we urgently need investment in our water and sewage infrastructure, we know that for many this increase will be difficult.”
He also underscored the impending investments, saying, “Water companies will invest a record £20 billion in 2025-26 to support economic growth, build more homes, secure our water supplies and end sewage entering our rivers and seas.”
Households wrestling with the financial burden can seek relief through the WaterSupport scheme, which may necessitate submission of household income evidence and any benefits you’re entitled to. Acceptable documentation includes bank statements, benefit award notices, self-employed business records, wage slips, and should feature your name, address, and the sums received.
For Yorkshire Water customers, proof can be emailed directly or sent via post along with the application to the following address:
Yorkshire Water, PO Box 52, Bradford, BD3 7YD
