Moving into a new property - compulsory water meter being installed

Cardew

Holophyte,

Your post is wrong in a number of ways.

Firstly it has been decreed by the Government that all new properties built in the last 20 years will have a meter fitted. So the Water companies have no discretion in this matter.

Secondly, the profits the water companies make are governed by the Regulator(ofwat); charging you another £200 does not go toward their profits.

Thirdly you are wrong to assert that only singles/couples gain by having a meter. Had I remained being charged on the Rateable Value I would be paying £1,400pa - if with my meter I had 10 people living in my house, all with average consumption, I would still pay less than £1,400. Many households with 5 or 6 people are better off with a meter; you cannot assume that your Rateable Value is representative, any more than mine was!!

cajef

Holophyte wrote: »

I pay for what I use?

Why should you not pay for what you use, do you think it is right that other people should subsidise your water use, working on your theory just because there are seven in your house you seem to think you should not pay as much for your utilities than people that use less, hardly a fair system.

PasturesNew

I find that the standing charge for water is half the bill, which is annoying.

I was on a non-metered rate of £40 for a studio flat, I went over to a water meter and it worked out to be about £15/month or so instead.

Holophyte

escortg3 wrote: »

With 3 children that you are claiming child benefit for, your eligible for it to be capped. My understanding is any house which meets this criteria only pay £240 per year. someone will correct me if i am wrong

Capped water meter bills

Industry watchdog the Consumer Council for Water says some people who have a water meter can request a capped bill if they receive specific benefits or tax credits and can’t avoid using a lot of water because they have three or more dependent children.
This also applies if you have a medical condition specified by the government - contact your water company for more details.

Yes Escortg3, I have indeed rang United Utilities and asked about this child tax credit...They have told me if we are eligable for this then the water will be capped to around £360 per year...I will be able to look into this more once I move into the property...As for the rest of the comments, I'm not having a go at individual cases, I'm having a go at the UK in general and the hike in bills! Sorry if you all seemed I was having a go....It just pee'd me off the fact my water could be going up by 100% cos it's metered, where as in my opinion if it's a condition by the goverment then ok, reduce the RV of the metre so it works out the same as a yearly bill...Some will now say, how can they do that if you use more?...There are always ways and means, reducing the cubic usage per litre, or how every they work out the cost. If this was reduced so that a yearly water bill of around £320 per how much water they could averagely use, could then be incorporated into the metre bill so it works out around the same, maybe a difference of £50 or so would be ok, but by £300 in my opinion is NOT...That's my whole point to this......they know how it works!

Holophyte

cajef wrote: »

Why should you not pay for what you use, do you think it is right that other people should subsidise your water use, working on your theory just because there are seven in your house you seem to think you should not pay as much for your utilities than people that use less, hardly a fair system.

Erm...No lol, I think I should pay the same as what other people unmetred pay, regardless of usage! This isn't about subsidies, it's about being equal...And there will be 5 not 7 lol....So lets say a family of 5 live 100yards away on a yearly bill, which I know our yearly bills here are £320...and then mine on a metre for the same usage is £600, as it's been quoted...You think that's right? That's what I call not a fair system...All UU's need to do is 500 properties down the road all pay £320 per year, then work out a lower rate on the metre so it works out around the same price over the year as the 500 unmetred properties...

Holophyte

Cardew wrote: »

Holophyte,

Your post is wrong in a number of ways.

Firstly it has been decreed by the Government that all new properties built in the last 20 years will have a meter fitted. So the Water companies have no discretion in this matter.

Secondly, the profits the water companies make are governed by the Regulator(ofwat); charging you another £200 does not go toward their profits.

Thirdly you are wrong to assert that only singles/couples gain by having a meter. Had I remained being charged on the Rateable Value I would be paying £1,400pa - if with my meter I had 10 people living in my house, all with average consumption, I would still pay less than £1,400. Many households with 5 or 6 people are better off with a meter; you cannot assume that your Rateable Value is representative, any more than mine was!!

Thirdly Cardew, depends on where you live and what water company supplies your water...So tell me this, why is your water company allowed to charge you £1,400 p.a RV, and my water company is allowed to charge me £320 p.a RV? I think ofwat need to sit down and work out why someone one down south or on the east coast, should be charged more, then someone in the NW...As far as I'm concerned, the UK is all one, same water, same conditions.

ERICS_MUM

I don't want to sound "holier than thou" but I think a few hundred pounds a year for a family of 4/5 is a bargain for constant clean running water and sewerage services. Compare with buying a newspaper:- 5 days at 50p plus weekends at £1 per day equals £4.50 per week, annual total of £234 , or 5 months water bill.


Linda xx

Holophyte

ERICS_MUM wrote: »

I don't want to sound "holier than thou" but I think a few hundred pounds a year for a family of 4/5 is a bargain for constant clean running water and sewerage services. Compare with buying a newspaper:- 5 days at 50p plus weekends at £1 per day equals £4.50 per week, annual total of £234 , or 5 months water bill.


Linda xx

I agree, but that isn't my point...I'm happy paying a few hundred pounds a year, as which I do now....My point is why it has to go up 100% on a metre? To £600 per year...That's more than a newspaper per day!

freesha

Water metre? Is that the same as a water meter?

cajef

Holophyte wrote: »

When there are 7 in total in my house, then no it will not be cheaper will it...!

Holophyte wrote: »

And there will be 5 not 7 lol....

Which is it, make your mind up.