Yorkshire Water continues financial support commitment

Yorkshire Water remains committed to helping customers through financial support and is reminding customers of the help available.

Extending the financial support available follows Yorkshire Water’s 2022 announcement to provide an additional £15m funding to support customers struggling to pay their water bills. This is in addition to the existing funding the company already invests in the financial support schemes and increases the support package to £115m for the current five-year period.

The utility is expecting to help more than 125,000 households with additional support with their bills in the current financial year, providing financial support of over £26million, and urging customers who may be eligible to contact Yorkshire Water if they are struggling with bills in the current cost of living crisis.

There are a number of schemes available, which can see annual charges capped for low income customers or debt reduction support for customers who are in arrears with their bill. Customers with a household income of less than £18,000 (proof of eligibility required) and a bill of more than £350 per year are likely to be able to apply for a bill reduction.

In 2022, Yorkshire Water provided more than 50,000 customers on their WaterSure and WaterSupport tariffs with a cost-of-living payment of up to £71 to help with their water bills. These tariffs support low-income households, and/or those with a medical need for water use, by capping the annual charges regardless of the water required. This year these charges have been reduced to £350, protecting these customers from bill increases and inflation during the current cost-of living pressures.

Angie Markham–Nock, customer support manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “As a utility provider, we are doing what we can to keep our commitment to support our customers during these financially difficult times. Across all our support schemes in 2022-23, over 90,000 customers have been provided financial support and we are expecting this to increase this year.

“Thanks to the support we’re offering, some households will not have seen an increase in their water bill this year, however, with the price of so many things rising, your money soon goes, and we want to help take the pressure off where we can and point you in the right direction for support if you’re eligible for it.

“We can provide advice about water efficiency and water meters to reduce customer bills, support with access to social tariffs for low-income customers or provide debt schemes to help make bills more affordable to customers struggling with arrears. Yorkshire Water is also here to help provide payment breaks, tailored payment arrangements and has signposted external debt and benefit support to thousands of customers across the region. 

“Please don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and speak to us. We know financial stresses are a huge concern for many and we have expert teams who are able to quickly signpost and explain the support available. There’s also an online application form that you can complete, and we’ll do the rest.”