Two recent water bills for a property in St Leonards showing a 64% price hike. The household in question had been refused a water meter. Photo: Energise Sussex Coast

Community project offers free help with water bills

Many low-income households in Hastings and St Leonards are eligible for a 45% (or more) reduction in their water bill. Energise Sussex Coast’s Gabriel Carlyle explains who’s eligible and how to apply.

Local community benefit society Energise Sussex Coast (ESC) is urging anyone in Hastings and St Leonards who is struggling with their water bills or water debt to contact its free advice service (01424 390062), noting that many local people are eligible for big reductions on their water bills that they simply don’t know about.

Founded in 2012, ESC works to tackle the climate crisis and energy injustice through community-owned renewable power and energy-saving schemes. It runs a free Energy Advice service to help local residents bring down the cost of their electricity, gas and water bills: 01424 390 062.

Its sister coop, Energise South, has raised community investment to finance and install solar arrays on eight local community buildings, including Baird Primary School and St Leonards Academy.

Massively-increased bills

Southern Water has recently sent out massively-increased bills to households across Hastings and St Leonards.

However, if your household income is under £22,020 (excluding any disability benefits) then you should be eligible for a 45%+ discount on your bill.

Others who may be eligible include households with three or more children aged under-19 living at home, and those with someone who needs more water because of a medical condition.

One St Leonards resident who recently called Energise Sussex Coast’s free advice line said: ‘When my Southern Water bill dropped through the door, I could hardly believe it. They’d hiked my bill by 64% – beyond what even Ofwat had said they could! Energise Sussex Coast were able to quickly set me up with a face-to-face meeting with an adviser and it now looks like I’ll be able to access a social tariff, so I should end up with my bill actually decreasing rather than going up’.

Local residents can also apply for the discounts themselves directly using this link.

Many people are simply unaware that they’re eligible for a big reduction on their water bill – or struggle to navigate the application process on their own if they do know.

If you think you might be eligible for a discount on your water bill and would like some help applying then we urge you to call our free community advice service so that we can assist you.

Find out more about Energise Sussex Coast by visiting the website: www.energisesussexcoast.co.uk

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