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Water Charges: Social Tariffs

Asked by Kevin HollinrakeConservativeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 10 December 2025UIN 96792

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Pursuant to the Answer of 17 September 2025, to Question 76604, on Water Charges: Social Tariffs, what is the estimated cost to other customers, (a) in aggregate and (b) cross-subsidy per non-qualifying average household, of the price of social tariffs in each year of the 2025-30 period, (1) across England and (2) across each water company, according information held by (i) his department and (ii) Ofwat.

Answered by Emma Hardy

Companies decide, in consultation with their customers and organisations representing customers, which household customers fund social tariffs and how much they pay.

Several companies have committed to using funds from their own investors, shareholders or parent companies for their social tariffs and other financial support schemes (United Utilities, Dŵr Cymru, Yorkshire Water and SES Water).

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