UK households in one area to get automatic | European Markets

1000’s of households in a single half of the UK will get an computerized low cost on their water payments this 12 months as thousands and thousands more face a £123 hike.

Round 60,000 Yorkshire Water prospects on the utility’s Water Assist social tariff will get a discount of their 2025/26 invoice.

The Water Assist tariff is a invoice cap scheme for households on low income under £19,000 with an annual water invoice of more than £364.

The tariff caps annual water prices at a set quantity, relying on a buyer’s particular person circumstances, and is accessible to each metered and unmetered houses.

The average water invoice for households in Yorkshire who aren’t on the Water Assist tariff will rise by £135 (28.9%) in 2025/26 – amounting to round £11 additional per thirty days.

The increase in payments is to help fund an £8.3 billion investment programme over the following 5 years to improve wastewater therapy works to cut back the quantity of air pollution in our rivers and seas.

Angie Markham-Nock, affordability strategy supervisor at Yorkshire Water, stated: “The next five years are really important for us, for the environment, and for our customers, as we deliver an £8.3bn 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.” 

Households in Yorkshire which are already eligible for the Water Assist scheme will obtain the low cost on their invoice robotically and don’t need to use.

In case you are on a low income and suppose you could be eligible, you possibly can apply online by way of the YorkshireWater web site or by calling 0345 129 9299.

Yorkshire Water additionally affords one other invoice discount tariff – Water Certain – which caps payments on the average quantity for many who have a water meter, declare income-based advantages or Common Credit score and need to make use of additional water.

There are additionally three different schemes accessible to prospects to help repay water invoice money owed: Resolve, Group Belief, and Direct Assist. Yorkshire Water says more than £375 million can be delivered in invoice reductions and debt help between 2025 and 2030 for many who need it.  

Ms Markham-Nock provides: “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.”