A record 1.6 million households in England and Wales are now benefiting from social tariffs to ease their water bills, marking a 20% increase from the previous year, according to BBC reports.

Water companies provided £259 million in discounts last year to low-income households, but the support varies significantly nationwide.

Welsh Water offered an average reduction of £287, while Southern Water provided just £110 off.

The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) urges companies to establish a single scheme ensuring consistent support citywide.

Factors like household income and benefits affect eligibility, creating what the CCW describes as a 'postcode lottery.' Each company adopts unique criteria for aid, affecting household eligibility and resulting in unequal assistance.

A case in Liverpool illustrates the benefits of social tariffs: Morgan Davies and Ellie Bryan secured reductions from United Utilities, lowering their monthly bills from £39 to £25 after a no-fault eviction increased their debts.

Despite this success, many residents miss out on assistance due to regional discrepancies.

CCW's senior leader Andy White highlights the need for a uniform approach to social tariffs, stressing that variations between companies are unfair.

Water UK acknowledges the discrepancies, pointing to the government for guidance, while the government announced an Independent Water Commission to tackle water poverty by next year.

In addition to social tariffs, more than 200,000 households received additional support of £66 million under the Watersure scheme, which caps bills for certain beneficiaries with high water usage.