Committee publication · Correspondence · 11 March 2025
Correspondence from the Minister for Water and Flooding, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, relating to social water tariffs, dated 4 March 2025
From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Reforming the water sector
Summary
Emma Hardy, Minister for Water and Flooding, responds to a February letter from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee regarding social water tariffs and support for water poverty. The Government confirms its commitment to addressing water poverty and welcomes water companies' plans to double social tariff provision from 4% to 9% of customers by 2030, but declines to commit to a specific timetable for a Single Social Tariff, citing complexities and the need for consultation.
Key findings
- Water companies plan to more than double social tariff provision from 4% of customers in 2020-25 to 9% by 2030
- Government cites complexities and need for stakeholder consultation as reasons for not committing to a specific Single Social Tariff implementation timetable in 2025
- The Water (Special Measures) Act has amended powers to enable new affordability support schemes and potential auto-enrolment of eligible customers onto future water support schemes
- Government expects water companies to ensure customers know what support schemes are available, including WaterSure, bill discounts, payment breaks, and debt advice
- Cross-departmental work is underway with the Child Poverty Taskforce to improve awareness of support, though details cannot yet be shared
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Emma Hardy MP, Mr Carmichael, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Ofwat, Water companies, Department for Work and Pensions, Child Poverty Taskforce
Notable line
“… therefore unable to commit to any specific policies, or a timeframe within which any new policies will be implemented, at this time.”
Key Quotes
“… companies have set out how they plan to more than double their social tariff provision across the forthcoming Price Review period – from 4% of customers supported in 2020-25, to 9% by”
“There are, however, complexities which must be considered before introducing any new affordability support schemes. Furthermore, any such schemes must be subject to stakeholder consultation and normal Parliamentary procedure.”
“We are clear as Government that we expect water companies to ensure their customers know what support schemes are available and how to access them if they need help.”
“Action has already been taken via the Water (Special Measures) Act, which amends relevant provisions of the Digital Economy Act 2017 and the Water Industry Act 1991 to enable potential auto-enrolment of eligible customers onto future water support schemes.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗