Water meter - minimum charge?

tyler80

In a long running saga with Severn Trent I've finally received a bill for the period Jan 2007 to August 2008 for a flat I used to rent.

Because of the time this bill is covering, it is split into 4 seperate sections, the first 2 have a water supply - minimum charge whilst the second two have a water supply.

Severn Trent customer services tell me the minimum charge was dropped in April 2008 hence why it only appears on the first half of the bill. I've since found an old leaflet on the web which shows the minimum charge element.

What is not clear to me is whether that minimum charge of 99.66 includes the standing charge of 29.96.

On my bill I have been charged seperately.

So even though for that time we only used 47 cubic metres of water, which at their pence per cubic metre rate would work out as 57.34 for the year we are charged 99.66 then the 29.96 standing charge on top of that. And for some inexplicable reason the minimum charge on unmetered properties is less!

If the minimum charge was 99.66 and included the 29.96 standing charge then that would work out as around 60 cubic metres per year which seems more fair, certainly that's a figure that i've seen as a low usage before.

So anyone know whether this minimum charge includes the standing charge or not?

nikkimaclean

The minimum charge does not include standing charges.

The minimum charge was applied to meters larger than the standard 15mm. If the amount of usage recorded was under the minimum for that size meter, then the minimum charge would automatically apply.

The standing charge would be the same regardless of how much water is used as it is a fixed annual charge and is pro rated.

Sorry not sure if I have explained this properly but hth.