just had first water bill and had a shock

jamtart6

Bought a house at Christmas, not living in it yet as we are doing it up, therefore electricity and gas is costing us about £20 per month max.

We go to the house 1 or 2 days per week and I would say spend a maximum of 12 hours per week there. In that time we may flush the loo once, and boil 4 kettles maximum.

Our water bill has just come and it is £ 380 for the first half of the year :eek: I feel like crying! We have hardly used any water at all

queries:
My question is, if we go on a water meter will it cost us to have it installed? Also, will we be able to switch back to rates? will that cost us money too? Currently with United Utilities.

I'm thinking of switching to a meter until we move in (probably in December) and then switching back to rates if needs be. There are only 2 of us at the moment (no kids yet) so think this could be more efficient.

Can anyone help with my queries? thank you in advance :A

Cardew

Water meters do not cost anything to install.

It is highly unlikely that any United Utilities metered bill would approach anything like £760 a year.

If you work on an average of 60 cubic meters per person per year you can calculate your likely annual costs.

For 2008/9 these were
£44 standing charges(water and sewerage)
£67 surface water drainage(you might not have to pay this - see threads on this issue)
£2.36 per cubic metre(water and sewerage)

So for a couple you are looking at a 'ball park' figure of £330 to £400pa

You are allowed to revert back to your original tariff within 12 months in the unlikely event of metering being more expensive.

jamtart6

Thanks for the info Cardew. It seems ridiculous that we are paying so much when we aren't even using £670 worth of water!

deanos

Have you told the water co. that the property is unoccupied and being renovated ?

If not you need to tell them this as you wont have to pay full charges, it varies by region Anglian for example dont charge anything if its empty, you will need to speak to them and explain the situation they may be able to backdate it for you as well, good luck.

kazwookie

As I understood it, once you went on a water meter you couldn't swop back.

It the bill for the right period of time?

Cardew

kazwookie wrote: »

As I understood it, once you went on a water meter you couldn't swop back.

If you are the existing account holder and have a meter fitted, you have a period of 12 months to revert to the original charging method.

The meter remains in place and the next occupant will(should!!) be metered.

1carminestocky

My elderly, widowed father averages precisely 95p per week in water charges according to his meter :eek: . OK, he's a pensioner and spends a few hours every day getting fed and watered at his even more elderly lady friends house but, still, amazing figure all the same! His meter was fitted entirely free and took approx 10 mins (fitter said he was on piece work ). He was previously paying approaching £38 per month.

As water rates are based on the ancient system of the rateable value, the figures saved by someone living alone, say, in a large house can be astronomical. The fitter told me he had just fitted a meter in a 7 bedroomed house occupied solely by a widower of 95 who was paying £1,000+ per year pre-meter fit.

bristolleedsfan

I had a water meter fitted in 2008, have brought my bill down from at 2008 charges, 324.00 a year to less than 100.00 a year. :j

Saved water from the Shower gets used in the Toilet Cistern + I get water from someone nearby who is not on a meter.

jamtart6

thanks for the advice guys. unfortunately I left the job of phoning the water company to my other half who managed to get talked into paying the bill monthly by direct debit and did not address the issue of paying £640 per year when we aren't living there. Was told it would be £390 per year on a meter if we are there, so a bit of a difference.

His attitude is "we'll stick with the rates as its less hassle":rolleyes:

I'm in 2 minds do we move to a meter and save money now and for a few years but when we hopefully have a family, we're stuck on a meter, so whats best?

ginvzt

I believe in pay for what you use. I wish we could go on the meter - we just moved into rented house, and landlord doesn't want meter. 2 year ago (the last time he lived there, house was empty since) he was paying £58 per month for water!!!!!
We have been on metered water for the last couple of years in the previous houses, and and averaged about £20pcm for 2 of us and 2-3 fishtanks, dishwasher, washing machine...

I think the highest bill we had was about £150, but that is when we had an 'accident' - the power shower was switched on by falling shelves while we were away and kept running at full for 2 at least days!!!!

deanos

You dont have to get a meter installed, Have you told the water co. the property is empty and being renovated as you dont have to pay full charges