Water bills: social tariffs, WaterSure and paying less
You cannot switch water supplier, but you may be able to cut the bill through a meter, a social tariff or the WaterSure cap if you qualify.
Water is the one household utility you cannot shop around for. Your supplier is fixed by where you live, so the usual advice to switch does not apply. That does not mean the bill is fixed, though. There are several routes to paying less, and a lot of people who qualify for help never claim it.
Metered versus unmetered
Many older homes are still billed on rateable value, an unmeasured charge based on the property rather than the water you actually use. If your home has more bedrooms than occupants, you may be paying for water you never draw. Switching to a meter means paying for what you use, which often, though not always, works out cheaper for smaller households.
Most suppliers let you request a meter and offer a trial period, so you can switch back if the metered bill turns out higher. If a meter cannot be fitted, some companies offer an assessed charge as an alternative. It is worth using your supplier’s online calculator to estimate the metered cost before deciding.
Social tariffs
Every water company in England and Wales runs a social tariff, a reduced bill for customers on low incomes. The catch is that each company sets its own scheme, its own eligibility rules and its own discount, so there is no single national threshold. Because the schemes are run separately and are not always well advertised, take-up is low, and many eligible households simply do not know theirs exists.
The action here is direct: contact your own water company, or check its website, and ask specifically about its social tariff and what income or benefit conditions apply. Citizens Advice can help you work out whether you qualify.
WaterSure
WaterSure is a specific cap for metered customers who are on certain benefits and who either have a large family or a medical condition that means they use a lot of water. It caps your bill so that heavy essential usage does not translate into an unaffordable charge. The qualifying conditions are set nationally but you claim through your water company, so again the route is to contact your supplier and ask.
If you are struggling to pay
If you are behind or worried about paying, contact your water company early rather than letting arrears build. Suppliers have hardship schemes, payment plans and, for some, arrears-matching schemes that reduce what you owe as you keep up payments. Water cannot be disconnected from a home for non-payment of a domestic bill, but arrears still need dealing with, and free help is available from Citizens Advice.
The overall message is that the water bill is more movable than it looks. Check whether a meter would help, ask your supplier directly about its social tariff and WaterSure, and get free advice if you are struggling, because the help exists but you almost always have to claim it yourself.