Should I get a water meter??

sammie678

About 5 years ago we moved from a new build property with a water meter to a old house without one. At the time Thames water told me that I had to get a water meter fitted and that the was a legal requirement.

I wasnt keen but had them come round for a site assesment - the guys ripped up a section of patio, were unable to find the stop !!!! (which if they had asked I could have told them the location) and then filled in the the hole with non setting tarmac - which they smeared all over my new gate and the rest of the patio.

Of course I called complained and some one came out and cleared up the mess they had left. I was told to call them when the patio was lifted to get them to fit a meter (at the time we were going to do this fairly shortly, but life has away of getting away from you).

My bill has doubled and now we actually are doing the garden I thought I should call them and get the meter fitted - Thames water told me today that there was never a requirement to get a meter fitted, that I am on a standard tariff and that if I were to get a meter fitted my bill would double!!

Is this true we are a standard family of 4......???

ceh209

Thames water told me today that there was never a requirement to get a meter fitted

Partly right. There is a law that they can enforce to give you a meter, but many companies chose/choose not to enforce it.

that I am on a standard tariff

True. There will only be one tariff for water - it's not like electric/gas.

and that if I were to get a meter fitted my bill would double!!

Can't help you there. What do you currently pay? Someone may be able to advise as I'm with a different water company (prices will vary).
Even if you do find it's more with a meter, I believe you have 12 months to revert back to your current system of billing. However any new occupants should you sell your house would then have to use the meter.

Gothicfairy

The last point is a hard one as unless we know what your consumption is likely to be and what your RV is now no one can really answer the meter / no meter question.


If Thames went through the ADC calculator and told you that your bill would double then I would tend to go with what they are saying but if it was someone how said through guessing I would check further.

macman

As mentioned, you can't lose. Have it fitted and then if paying more just revert to RV billing within the first 12 months.

spiro

My udnerstanding is that the people who gain most from a meter are those in a house that is under occupied i.e. a couple in a 3 bedroom house. If the house is fully occupied and you are 'wasteful' with water then expect to be higher if metered.

PaulBear

I would suggest having a word with neighbours, if any have a meter and a family like yours it would give you a good idea.
The main thing is how you use water, I live alone and am very tight so save quite a bit [bill = £110 pa].
If you have 2 teenagers you will almost certainly be better off without a meter unless they are into eco.

Cardew

Thames water told me today that there was never a requirement to get a meter fitted, that I am on a standard tariff and that if I were to get a meter fitted my bill would double!!

ceh209 wrote: »

True. There will only be one tariff for water - it's not like electric/gas.

Just a point, it seems strange that Thames Water would use a term like 'Standard Tariff'. Could it be they said an Assessed tariff? i.e. they couldn't fit a meter so placed him on an assessed tariff.

If he is being assessed on the Rateable Value(RV) it must be a very low RV for metered charges to be double?