Ofwat will shortly publish 2025-26 WaterSure bill reduction data, based on companies’ Annual Performance Report submissions. Additionally, through the PR24 business planning process, Ofwat requested information from water companies on average customer cross-subsidies for social tariffs and forecast changes, which it summarised in its report on water companies’ affordability plans.

The Government has committed to reform the WaterSure scheme, including eligibility criteria. These reforms were consulted on July to September 2025. The changes to the scheme will expand eligibility to include households in receipt of non-means-tested disability benefits – meaning a further 53,000 low-income households with a medical need of high-water use are expected to save around £325 per year. Government intends to implement these reforms in early 2027, subject to parliamentary processes. The Government response to the consultation can be found on GOV.UK.

WaterSure is the only national tariff for which Government sets the criteria, it is intended to help customers on low incomes with unavoidably high water usage who may otherwise struggle to pay their water bill. To be eligible for WaterSure, customers must be in receipt of means tested benefits, which provides an appropriate measure for assessing income, and have either three or more children under 19 or a medical condition requiring the extra use of water.

A post implementation review of The Water Industry (Charges) (Vulnerable Groups) (Consolidation) Regulations 2015, carried out in 2020 concluded that no changes to the Regulations were required. The Consumer Council for Water’s Independent Review of Water Affordability, published in 2021, did not recommend any changes to WaterSure’s eligibility criteria, rather changes to how companies administer the scheme.

To be eligible for WaterSure, customers must be in receipt of means tested benefits, which provides an appropriate measure for assessing income, and have either three or more children under 19 or a medical condition requiring the extra use of water.

Attendance Allowance is not included as an eligible benefit as it is a non means-tested benefit. Without an income-related criterion, those who are able to afford their water bill may receive financial support funded by other lower income households.

Since the introduction of WaterSure, the legislation has been updated to add and remove benefits, making sure that WaterSure continues to support those most in need of assistance. The Government does not intend to change the eligibility criteria for WaterSure at this time.

Water companies also offer social tariffs, payment breaks, payment matching, debt advice and referral arrangements, and some have independent charitable trusts that make awards to help customers in times of need. The eligibility criteria for social tariffs is not set by the Government, allowing water companies to address the local and regional needs of their customers.

We have asked the independent Consumer Council for Water to undertake a review of existing financial support schemes to ensure consumers who struggle with their water bills can get the support they need. The review will be published this spring.

WaterSure is the national mandated tariff that all water companies provide to support metered customers on low incomes that have unavoidably high water use. It is not the purpose of WaterSure to support all vulnerable customers. The Government has no plans to amend the eligibility criteria.

The Government recognises that some customers face affordability pressures and that this varies greatly by region. Consequently, the water companies are best placed to discuss these issues with their customers and to agree on the design of any support schemes (e.g. social tariffs). This will help ensure that they take account of local circumstances and the needs of customers.

To assist the water companies the Government has published guidance on the introduction of social tariffs. Using this guidance, the water companies have been able to introduce social tariffs since April 2013. Alongside this the water companies also offer customer assistance funds, support tariffs, debt advice and support with water efficiency.

From April there are now 14 water companies offering social tariffs to their customers and we anticipate the remaining four companies to introduce them within the next two years. Ofwat’s 2014 Price Review predicts that water companies will be helping around 1.8 million customers by 2020, which is more than double the 760,000 customers that currently receive assistance.

I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The WaterSure tariff lowers the bills of low-income, metered customers that have unavoidably high water use. WaterSure is provided by all water companies in England to qualifying customers and caps their water bills at the average for their region. WaterSure customers will continue to benefit from the scheme when their qualifying benefit or tax credit is replaced by universal credit. The WaterSure tariff is funded through cross subsidy between water customers; there is no cost to the public purse.