SES Water has announced it has increased the number of customers on its social tariff by aligning with four other south eastern water companies as part of its PR19 plan.
The move represents the first steps to create a cross-regional network of organisations supporting financially vulnerable customers across the region.
On Monday (1 April) the eligibility criteria for SES Water’s water support scheme, which offers reduced charges to eligible customers, was changed to align with Thames Water, Southern Water, South East Water and Portsmouth Water.
This opens the scheme to low-income households without the need for customers to be aged 62 and over, registered disabled or caring for a child under five.
This, SES says, will give previously ineligible customers the chance to reapply to receive the discount which will also automatically apply to their sewerage charges.
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.”
SES Water was placed in the “slow track” category by industry regulator Ofwat after submitting its PR19 business plan earlier this year.
Ofwat said companies in this category had “further work to do” on their plans.
Speaking following his company’s PR19 resubmission yesterday (1 April) Anthony Ferrar, managing director at SES, said: “We developed our business plan for 2020 to 2025 in partnership with our customers so it is important that our re-submission continues to deliver what matters most to them with bills lower in real terms than they are today.
“We have largely focused on further justification of our original plan, providing more evidence where appropriate and taking on board some refinements suggested by Ofwat.
“I maintain the view that our business plan is the best one we have ever submitted with investment that will raise the bar for the industry in important areas like leakage and interruptions to supply, as well as improving our local environment and doing more to support our customers and local communities.”
The regulator’s PR19 is centred around four main themes – affordable bills, great customer service, resilience in the round and innovation.
PR19 sets the price, service and incentive package that the water companies must deliver during the five-year period from 2020.
Source: Ofwat