New water scheme to be trialed in Barnstaple
The trial is part of South West Water’s new trial which gives customers the chance to save money on their bills by reducing their water usage
South West Water's innovative new trial, the Smart Saver tariff, has kicked off in Barnstaple today (April 1), offering customers the opportunity to save money on their bills by reducing water usage. The trial targets approximately 570 customers and is scheduled to run for two years.
The Smart Saver tariff operates on a simple principle: the less water you use, the less you pay.
Customers who demonstrate water efficiency by reducing their consumption will benefit from a cheaper water rate, while rates will increase for those with higher consumption.
Laura Flowerdew, Chief Customer and Digital Officer at South West Water said: "We're pleased to have our new Smart Saver tariff underway and are looking forward to working with customers to see the results of this exciting trial over the next two years."
She continued: "This trial reflects feedback from our customers that they want us to find new ways of charging. We want to make sure that the bills they pay are fair and reflect their usage, and this will allow us to understand what works well and what our customers consider to be fair ways of charging."
The company estimates that around 90 per cent of participating customers will see a reduction in their bills through this innovative tariff.
Emily Bulman, Director at Ofwat, applauded South West Water's initiative and said: “We welcome South West Water carrying out this trial and look forward to discussing with them how customers respond.”
Andrew White, Senior Leader at the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), and said: “The way customers are billed for their water hasn’t changed in over 30 years. With 1 in 4 households reporting that they are struggling to pay their water bills, it's great to see South West Water exploring new ways of charging customers.”
Monthly statements will also be provided to help customers track their usage and make informed decisions to reduce consumption and save money.
This initiative is part of South West Water's broader strategy to explore alternative billing methods to better align charges with actual usage.
The company plans to introduce four new and innovative tariffs across Devon and Cornwall by April 2025, with the ultimate goal of making bills more equitable for all customers.