They are installing a water meter against my wishes

silvercar

I prefer to be without a meter, I reckon its cheaper for me though I may be wrong.

I live in a compulsory metering area, so when we moved the we received a letter telling us the water authority were going to install a meter. They never got round to it and after a few months we had a letter telling us they weren't going to bother and we could continue unmetered.

I don't know why they had a change of heart. I did hear that they can't bill you for the unmetered usage (based on rateable value) if they install a meter off their own back when they intially form a contract with you, so if too much time is wasted they allow you to remain unmetered so that they can bill you from when you moved in.

Gothicfairy

MacMickster wrote: »

This is the key. The water company's profits will remain the same. They currently charge metered households less than those without, to encourage installation of meters. Once the majority are metered however then their charges will obviously be increased to maintain the profit levels.

People will then try to use less water to keep their bills down, which will lead to further price increases to maintain profit levels. The consumer will not win.

Slighty late ( as always ) but this is sort of not true, the water companies do not charge metered houses less at all. The RV for the property is fixed and was done 30 odd years ago by the IR. They are the ones that work out the price of your property and the pence per RV is the same for all rated properties.
There are thousands of people out there will low RV's paying less then a low user through a meter.
There are people who pay less the £200 per year on RV.
The price of RV's has nothing to do with trying to get people onto a meter as it is not fixed by the water company.
Also there is a lot more profit for water companies then just metered water. They make a huge amount of their budget on building works, new supplies , new connections , business supplies etc also they sell things like sludge to farmers and own land that returns rent or livestock management / Arable.
They also own property and places like Minworth (sp) are almost 100% self reliant now and they are working with other companies to pass on that knowledge.
A lot of their profit comes from outside things that will continue and expand as well so it is not as clear cut as the bills will go up.

Gothicfairy

silvercar wrote: »

I prefer to be without a meter, I reckon its cheaper for me though I may be wrong.

I live in a compulsory metering area, so when we moved the we received a letter telling us the water authority were going to install a meter. They never got round to it and after a few months we had a letter telling us they weren't going to bother and we could continue unmetered.

I don't know why they had a change of heart. I did hear that they can't bill you for the unmetered usage (based on rateable value) if they install a meter off their own back when they intially form a contract with you, so if too much time is wasted they allow you to remain unmetered so that they can bill you from when you moved in.

A bit of a urban myth that one, they can bill you from move in date on the RV of the property up until the meter is installed as it remains valid until that date.
Also there is no contract with water companies unlike Gas and Electric.

Callie22

silvercar wrote: »

I prefer to be without a meter, I reckon its cheaper for me though I may be wrong.

I think it's cheaper too. We've just moved into a non-metered place and the bill is £15 per month. Our last house was compulsarily metered and the bill for the last three months we were there was £115. I have no idea why it was so expensive - OH is away most of the week and I'm paranoid about water use as it was so expensive - no washing cars, no watering, no baths just short showers, no dishwasher, not a great deal of washing. I suppose there could have been a leak but getting anyone to do anything about it was like banging my head against a brick wall ...

jimjames

A few points

1) Most water meters are fitted outside the property, generally in the pavement to replace the existing stopcock. No access to your property is generally needed.

2) Companies in the South East are implementing a compulsory metering programme but at different rates. Southern Water will complete in 5 years, other 10 years.

3) There is a very big difference between metered and unmetered rates once metering hits a certain threshold. In the South West where installed meters are already at very high levels, average unmetered bill is £782 but average metered bill is £424. For Southern Water it is £413 vs £383 so remaining on unmeasured once everyone else has a meter is unlikely to be a good move.

DervProf

How much ?

Once everyone (or the majority) are on meters, then the price will go up, even if we use just 10 gallons a year.

meer53

My water bill was cut by 50% when i had a meter installed (under my sink) I haven't had to curb usage at all. I pay £19 per month, 3 bed semi, me and 2 kids (one adult son 24) and a HUGE garden !

ffacoffipawb

ruggedtoast wrote: »

I need to stop them getting into my man-hole.:mad:

OOer missus!

PasturesNew

My parents' water was £60/month (small semi) until they went onto a meter about 6 years ago, now it's about £30/month. It'd probably be £80/month by now unmetered.

PasturesNew

lostinrates wrote: »

Any one can set up water butts etc.

Can you explain that to the guy in a studio flat on the 4th floor?