South Staffs Water has launched a new tariff offering a 60% discount for metered customers with a household income of £22,011 to £27,000 on the essential water they use every day.

The Assure – Essential Saver tariff, which is being offered for a period of 18-months, will enable up to 1,000 South Staffs Water and Cambridge Water customers to join the tariff, which is designed to help households reduce their water bill and encourage water-saving habits.

The new tariff provides customers with a 60% discount on the essential water they use in their home every day – for activities like showering, washing, drinking, cleaning and cooking.

The tariff offers a discount for water used up to a certain total of litres every day based on the number of occupants in the household. Any additional water used would be charged at the usual standard metered rate.

The number of litres has been calculated based on the amount of water households typically use for everyday activities such as showering, cooking, washing up, cleaning and drinking.

A South Staffs water bill is made up of:

• the water charge - the water supplied by South Staffs the customer uses
• the wastewater charge - charges for used water and surface water drainage collected on behalf of Severn Trent

On the tariff, the water used as part of the water charge is split into two parts: essential water usage and non-essential water usage. The 60% discount will be appled to the essential water usage as part of the water charge.

The standing charge, which is part of the water charge, will remain the same and will not be affected by the discount. The discount does not apply to wastewater charge which will also remain the same.

The trial is available to customers who:

• Have a water meter, and
• Have a yearly household income between £22,011 and £27,000

Recent data from Citizens’ Advice shows that 18% of the customers it has supported who are experiencing water and sewerage bill debt had household incomes between £18,000 and £24,000 a year.

South Staffs Water says it has developed the innovative tariff to help customers with the rise in the cost-of-living.

Customers on the tariff will still save money even if they keep their water use the same as it is now.

For example a household of four people would receive a 60% discount on the water you use up to 300 litres per day.

Any water used over the discounted amount would be charged at the normal metered rate. For example, customers who used 556 litres of water per day would receive a 60% discount on the 300 litres used, and would only be charged at the usual metered rate for the 256 litres you used over the 'essential usage'.

South Staffs Water is now inviting interested customers to apply, open or download an application form and email it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , with the subject line 'Assure - Essential Saver application form' or print it off and post it to FREEPOST ASSURE, Green Lane, Walsall, WS2 7PD.

Alternatively, customers can call South Staffs on 0345 60 70 456 - the customer service team can check eligibility and get customers who qualify set up.