Report: Ending Water Poverty by 2030 - Are current social tariffs working?

Our latest analysis suggests 25% of households in England and Wales could be in water poverty, yet support remains fragmented and inconsistent.

In our full report, we explore the drivers of affordability pressures and present a considered case for a more consistent and effective national approach.

Click here to read the report in full.

Fragmented support could be leaving many without help

While support for water customers is available, it varies widely by region, and despite the continued efforts of suppliers, many eligible customers remain unaware of the help that exists.

In this report, we recommend a centralised support scheme to improve outcomes for vulnerable households.

We hope it contributes to the wider conversation, building on the IWC’s work and helping the sector to think differently about future solutions.

We explore:

• The estimated scale of water poverty in the UK
• Limitations of current support schemes and social tariffs
• The case for a universal definition of water poverty
• Practical options for delivering more effective, data-driven support
• Lessons from fuel poverty and the role of automation in future schemes

Read the full report.

Insights from our Fuel Poverty roundtable

What could water learn from the energy sector?

Many of the challenges seen in water affordability mirror those faced in the energy sector - from inconsistent support schemes to difficulties in identifying and reaching vulnerable households.

At our recent roundtable on fuel poverty, held at the House of Lords, sector leaders discussed how better data use, earlier interventions, and cross-sector collaboration could unlock more effective, sustainable support.

Read our article here.

About BFY Group

BFY Group is trusted by leading energy and utilities companies to deliver transformational change. Since our founding in 2004, we’ve been proud to remain an independent, privately owned firm based in Nottingham, working with clients throughout the UK. In 2025, we transitioned to employee ownership, and were recognised as Europe’s fastest-growing management consultancy by the Financial Times.

Our deep expertise is what sets us apart. We bring in leading talent directly from the sectors we serve, equipping them with the consulting skills they need to make a lasting impact with our clients. Our team’s experience spans all levels including senior leadership, with backgrounds at companies like Severn Trent, Thames Water, Business Stream, Water Plus, and Northumbrian Water. 

We specialise in:

• Transformation
• Strategy and Commercial Excellence
• Operational Turnaround and Recovery
• ESG and Carbon Reduction

BFY Group is recognised as one of the UK’s Leading Management Consultants by the Financial Times, receiving five awards in 2025. We’ve also earned recognition as a Great Place To Work on multiple occasions, and our Private Equity clients voted us as one of the 50 Most Ambitious businesses and leadership teams in the UK.

For more on our analysis of affordability challenges across energy and utilities, and how we can help, contact Rachel Littlewood.