YORKSHIRE Water has responded to the cost of living increase, with an additional £15 million from the company’s shareholders available for support to households with their bills through to 2025.

It brings total support for customers to £115 million across the five-year business period from April 2020 to 2025.

The number of customers asking for financial support from the firm has doubled in recent months. The bill relief package will support more than 100,000 customers struggling to pay their bill every year.

Zoe Burns-Shore, Yorkshire Water’s director of customer experience, said: “The rising cost of living is difficult for a lot of people.

“We’ve seen the number of customers applying for our current financial support schemes double in the last three months alone.

“The additional funding announced today will help those that are struggling to pay their bill.

“We know from speaking to our customers that there are households impacted by the cost of living crisis that wouldn’t have previously worried about their water bill. With inflation growing, their disposable income has dropped, and they now find themselves in a position where they cannot afford it all.”

To apply for one of Yorkshire Water’s financial support schemes go to: yorkshirewater.com/bill-account/help-paying-your-bill