Cost of living boost as 250,000 people in Yorkshire receive water bill support

Through bill reductions, bill caps, debt support, the utility firm says it will have provided £60 million in financial support to low-income households across the region by April 2026 - this includes 60,000 customers who saw an overall reduction in their bill last year.

At present, 190,000 customers are receiving direct bill support – either a bill reduction, bill cap, or support with bill debt – and a further 38,000 are being supported via special payment arrangements, wellbeing checks and signposting to helpful services.

By April, the total number of customers being supported is expected to reach 250,000.

Angie Markham-Nock, Affordability Strategy Manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “When we implemented bill increases last year to help fund our investment package, we knew it was important to lift our provision of financial support, too, so that we could ensure that we could provide more support to those who were struggling with bills.

"Although the financial year isn’t over yet, we are already surpassing our targets for the amount of people we have supported.”

The increase in bill support from Yorkshire Water came following a rise in average bills last year – around £11 per month – to help fund an £8.3 billion 2025-2030 investment programme.

This includes:

More than 1,000km of mains being replaced

£1.5bn programme to reduce discharges from storm overflows

A £350m investment at 85 wastewater treatment sites across the region to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering watercourses over the next five years.

£38m package for reducing leaks

Investment in water supplies – including testing for new boreholes at East Ness and Brayton Barff, and upgrades at Ingbirchworth and Haisthorpe treatment sites

In total, more than £375m will be delivered in bill reductions and debt support over the next five years.

Yorkshire Water offers two different bill reduction tariffs, Water Support and Water Sure, which reduce or cap bills at a fixed amount for those with low income or who claim income-based benefits and need to use extra water.

There are also three schemes available to customers to help pay off water bill debts: two payment matching schemes, Resolve and Direct Support, and the Community Trust..

For details of financial support schemes, visit: https://www.yorkshirewater.com/bill-account/help-paying-your-bill

Or call 03451299299.