Quantcast
Menu
Save, make, understand money

Household Bills

How to slash £100 off your water bill ahead of April price rise

Joanna Faith
Written By:
Joanna Faith
Posted:
Updated:
19/03/2019

Thousands of UK households could pull the plug on rising water bills by switching to a meter, according to the water watchdog.

Water bills are set to rise by 2% from 1 April, meaning the average bill will go up by £8 a year to £415.

But a meter could save some households more than £100 a year, the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) said.

The general rule is if your house has more bedrooms than people living in it, you’re most likely to save money with a meter.

Most water companies give customers up to two years to trial a water meter and revert back if they want.

Andy White, senior policy manager at the Consumer Council for Water, said: “Switching to a meter won’t suit everyone but in some cases households are delighted to discover they can make a considerable saving. Water companies also offer a wide range of schemes designed to help ease the pressure on low-income customers.”

Other ways to cut your water bills, include:

Apply for a lower tariff

About 500,000 households are already signed up to social tariff schemes. These can help eligible low-income customers cut their bills, in some cases, by as much as 90 per cent. CCWater has a guide on its website.

Fish for some freebies

Most water companies will offer you a free water-saving pack with devices that can help reduce your use around the house. These are ideal for saving money if you’re a metered customer.

Soak-away savings

If you have a soak-away in your garden, which drains all the surface water from your property into the earth, you can apply to have surface water drainage charges removed from your bills. This could typically save you about £35 a year.

Sign up to WaterSure

If your metered household receives income-related benefits and has to use a lot of water due to having a large family or medical condition, you may be eligible for WaterSure. This nationwide scheme caps the amount you can be charged.