Sutton and East Surrey Water has aligned with four other water companies to increase the number of customers on their social tariff, taking its first steps to create a cross-regional network of south east organisations supporting customers facing financial vulnerability as promised in their 2020 to 2025 Business Plan.

From 1 April, SES Water’s Water Support Scheme, which offers reduced charges to eligible people facing financial hardship, changed its eligibility criteria to align with Thames Water, Southern Water, South East Water and Portsmouth Water.

The change opens the scheme to households on a low income without also needing to be aged 62 and over, registered disabled or caring for a child under five, giving customers who were not previously eligible the chance to re-apply to receive the discount which will also automatically apply to their sewerage charges.

This is the first step towards fully aligning the support schemes across all south east water companies which will increase the consistency of support across the region and remove unnecessary complexity to give customers the help they require without having to contact multiple organisations.

SES Water’s Head of Retail Services, Dan Lamb, said:

“As part of our 2020 to 2025 Business Plan, we have a target to register 19,000 customers on our Water Support Scheme by 2025. We are already more than half way there with more than 10,000 customers already registered and with the new criteria in place, we’re writing to those we know were not previously eligible with the chance to re-apply for the discount. Those currently on the scheme will not be affected by the change but we encourage customers who may need additional support to call us or visit our website to find out more about how we can help.”