Southern Water is providing a £98million package of support for customers to combat the cost-of-living crisis, which is disproportionately hitting the most vulnerable households hardest across the Isle of Wight and 3 other South Coast counties.
Coming to the aid of people facing financial hardship, Southern Water has announced that it will boost the minimum discount on bills offered to 104,000 households, from 20% to 45%, whilst adding another 21,000 households to that number, offering these customers at least an average annual saving of £200 on a dual service bill.
The support will also continue to help customers that are in greater need, to access bill discounts of up to 90%.
Katy Taylor, Chief Customer Officer at Southern Water, has said:
“While Christmas excitement may be growing for many families in our region, we know that there will be lots who are worried about how they will afford it and also pay for their heating and other bills.
“As water is an essential service that people cannot live without, we believe it is critical that we support thousands of vulnerable households in our region who need a break.
“Our customers live in the same communities as our colleagues and their families, people we speak to and serve every day. We are in an extremely fortunate position where we can help, which is why we have put together a package worth £98m to support customers who need help, until 2025.
“I would urge anyone who needs help to reach out and we will do everything we can to support you.”
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To help those facing the challenge around rising food and energy costs, Southern Water is also giving out 20 community centre energy grants of £1,000 each this winter to ensure community hubs and spaces can stay open and stay warm, supporting around 6,000 people each week to continue to attend foodbanks, befriender cafes, support groups, and wellbeing classes.
Meanwhile, Southern Water teams are working closely with many organisations that have direct contact with customers struggling financially, such as regional Citizens Advice hubs, Job Centres and Food Banks, running face-to-face support surgeries with customers.
Just shows how much they are overcharging and profiteering.
Can afford to give back £98 million and pay the fines imposed on them for dumping untreated waste into rivers and the sea,whilst still making a profit.
Anybody with an hour or so to spare might like to trace the interlocking web of companies to which SW ultimately belongs – Greensands Europe Ltd seems to be the top of the tree, although it claims not to trade in its own right but operate through Greensands UK Ltd, which in turn does not trade but claims to own Greensands Holdings Ltd which acccording to Companies House does not exist. Which is handy, as apparently its outgoings exactly match its income.
Smoke, mirrors and yet more sewage.
So the scrounger get free water, to add to their free food, free heating, free rent, free council tax, free school transport, free school meals, free school uniforms, free gym membership, free insulation.
So whilst STILL getting thousands in benefits and tax credits or U.C, and even more if, as most do, they have a special one amongst the brood, they ‘have never had it so good’
Every charity is falling over backwards to give them more, and as few can be left in Africa now, at least Oxfam etc is less needed, as they have come direct to the source of charity now.
It’s not just the scrounger as you call them that will get this
Will just come out of what little investment they do and not the profits they give to shareholders