Thousands of Adur and Worthing residents set to save money on their water bills

Around £760,000 is set to be cut from the bills of the most vulnerable people, thanks to a partnership between Adur & Worthing Councils and Southern Water.

As part of a data sharing agreement, the councils’ Proactive team has provided Southern Water with the details of more than 4,500 residents on low incomes or in receipt of benefits who may be eligible for a discount on their bills.

In December, Southern Water will begin contacting the residents identified to let them know that they will be moved to its cheaper Essentials tariff payment scheme and will have their bills reduced by an average of £177 per year.

The tariff is designed to help customers who are struggling to pay by providing a discount of at least 45% for households with a low income or who are claiming Pension Credit.

The team will continue to pass on the details of any residents that may be eligible for the Essentials tariff to Southern Water. The partnership will be subject to strict rules around personal data and security and the information shared is strictly for the purpose of benefiting eligible residents.

Adur & Worthing Councils are the first local authorities to partner with Southern Water in this way, but the water company plans to expand the scheme to work with more councils across their region next year.

Cllr Ödül Bozkurt, Worthing’s cabinet member for housing and citizen services, said: “We know that many of our residents are continuing to be impacted by the cost of living and rising utility bills. There is a lot of support available for anyone that is struggling to pay the bills, including information on our website, direct support from our Proactive team or in-person advice at our next cost of living event.”

To find out more about the partnership between Adur & Worthing Councils and Southern Water visit: https://www.southernwater.co.uk/latest-news/new-partnership-with-local-councils/.

Or for wider information if you are struggling to pay your water bill, visit Southern Water’s dedicated webpage: What If I Can’t Pay My Bill? - Southern Water