Anyone else on a water meter?

ecoelle

Hi there, we pay our water by monthly direct debit to severn trent water and today received our new payment plan for the next 12 months. It had gone up from £26 per month to £42, quite an increase so i rang them and asked them to check it. It turned out that the computer hadn't taken into account the fact that we had credit on the account and that a new bill was coming out next week. So got her to check the meter reading which was fine and she said our daily usage was anywhere from 30 units to 80 units a day (i suppose this depends on whether or not i run the washer at all) but it's sorted now so we only pay £28 a month. Just thought i'd mention this as anyone else on a meter may find that they are paying too much if they don't ring up and check.

Also find it strange that lots of people put threads on here to do with electricity and gas but few people post about water so has anyone got tips or hints as to what people can do to cut down on water use and also is it worth checking your meter each month like people do with their gas and electric?

groovychick69

We have a meter and our bill is £17 a month also with Severn trrent. Prior to having the meter fitted we were paying £27.01 per month. We dont ever seem to be in credit always use the same amount there or there abouts. I will check my vill next quarter when they send it but dont think it will be much differant.

Viper_7

£35 a quarter - two people, on water Meter.

not just the cost - but stops you being wasteful, and I don't mean being tight arsed and turning tap off whilst brushing teeth - although it's a good habbit to get into.

however I plead you don't get a meter , no one should get a meter, as the more people that do, they will have to start increasing the prices they are currently fleecing off those that don't have one fitted and who don't realise what can be saved.

So - DON'T GET A WATER METER! ;-)

Gothicfairy

What units were they talking about ?

There is no way you can use 30 to 80m3 per day but STW's systems do not work on anything less so I am not sure what you were told or why. If you supplied the whole read to include the red numbers they still would not have anything to work that out against as the system does not store those numbers.

I would also pay attention to your bill when it arrives because any payment plan will only work if there is enough credit to cover your bill in one go.

Say you finished your plan now and the next one starts in Dec for 11 months (2 bills) if you start with a zero balance or even credit fine and good but if the amount of credit you have now is not enough to pay the bill (IE £90.00 credit but bill is £150.00 leaving £60.00 in debt) you will then have to pay that as well as the 2 coming bills
See what I mean ?

I think it is very smart to keep an eye on your meter as it means you know what you are using and roughly how much your bills will be

As for saving money, get a toilet brick (hippo bag) don't run the water in between brushing teeth, catch the water from a shower if it takes time to run hot>Same with kitchen taps.

ecoelle

Gothicfairy wrote: »

What units were they talking about ?

There is no way you can use 30 to 80m3 per day but STW's systems do not work on anything less so I am not sure what you were told or why. If you supplied the whole read to include the red numbers they still would not have anything to work that out against as the system does not store those numbers.

I would also pay attention to your bill when it arrives because any payment plan will only work if there is enough credit to cover your bill in one go.

Say you finished your plan now and the next one starts in Dec for 11 months (2 bills) if you start with a zero balance or even credit fine and good but if the amount of credit you have now is not enough to pay the bill (IE £90.00 credit but bill is £150.00 leaving £60.00 in debt) you will then have to pay that as well as the 2 coming bills
See what I mean ?

I think it is very smart to keep an eye on your meter as it means you know what you are using and roughly how much your bills will be

As for saving money, get a toilet brick (hippo bag) don't run the water in between brushing teeth, catch the water from a shower if it takes time to run hot>Same with kitchen taps.

Just done some investigating, it's 30-80 metres cubed per bill, which are about every 6 months, not daily!!!

I've been wroking out the average as we use more in winter than in summer months and on average May-Dec we use 7.5 metres cubed per month, Dec-May we use about 11 metres cubed per month so i'm aiming this month for 10metres cubed i've put in the metre reading online for today then i'll do the same on the 1st January and see if i've managed it!

I didn't realise there would be such a difference in the amounts between summer and winter anyone know why this is?