Customers struggling to pay household bills are more likely to experience poor wellbeing.
• Just over half of water bill payers believe they will struggle to pay a utility bill over the coming year, rising to 7 in 10 if there are children in the household.
• 47% of those who expect their financial situation to get worse reported feeling worried day to day and 38% reported feeling stressed.
• Only three in ten (31%) bill payers reported they are aware that water companies can provide financial support to those struggling with bills.
Date Published: 13/05/2022
Client: Ofwat
Methodology
A survey of 2,306 water bill payers in England and Wales. The sample includes 1,911 respondents in England and 395 water bill payers in Wales. The data was weighted by gender, age, and region to be nationally representative. A booster sample of 303 water bill payers from ethnic minority communities in England and Wales as added. Research took place between March and April 2022