MSE News: Household water bills to rise 3.5% 5 February 2013 at 11:19AM in Water Bills 15 replies 2.3K views

Former_MSE_Helen

"Average household water and sewerage bills in England and Wales will increase by 3.5% over the next year..."

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Household water bills to rise 3.5%



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cornishphil

I'm not convinced by the average £499 figure for the South West. Here in sunny Cornwall we pay not far short of £1000 for a Band C property, unmetered.A £50 annual subsidy from the Government is hardly going to be a vote winner!

Caddyman

I'm actually really pleased we're on a water meter. There's only me and the Wife and our annual water charge (billed every six months) is just £260 per year. We're in the East Midlands and our supply is from Severn Trent.

I'm convinced that in certain situations, it would work out much cheaper for those not on a water meter, to have one installed. I believe the water companies will install a water meter free of charge?

Atidi

• • Thames Water bills will rise 5.5%, with the average bill increasing to £354.
  • Southern Water bills will rise 5.3%, with an average bill of £449.
  • Wessex Water bills will rise 4.9%, with an average bill of £478.
  • United Utilities bills will rise 3.4%, with an average bill of £406.

I think I heard both Essex & Anglia water authorities planned about 2.8%-3.0% increases

I'm not sure which I prefer, a supplier that is going to wallop me with a massive 5.5% increase but only charge me £354 p.a. or a supplier that is only going to charge me 3.4% increase but sting me for over £400 :eek:
I think I would prefer the supplier that will want the 5.5% increase :beer:

If only we had a choice like we do with gas & electric :cool:

pka_2

cornishphil wrote: »

I'm not convinced by the average £499 figure for the South West. Here in sunny Cornwall we pay not far short of £1000 for a Band C property, unmetered.A £50 annual subsidy from the Government is hardly going to be a vote winner!

Me neither. We live Devon and standing charge for our house is about £800, we had a meter installed and its now about £650. I'd love to know where the £499 figure comes from. At least the government is finally subsidising our rates (albeit by a meagre amount).

Butterfly_Brain

They actually wanted a 10% increase and we all know that it would find its way into the fat cat and shareholders pockets offshore somewhere and they get away with tax evasion by the billions.
We live in Bedfordshire and pay £540 pa on a band C property, these companies really are taking the p*ss.
It is time that all utilities were nationalised at least the profits would go into the public purse and go some way into paying off the public debt.

Cardew

cornishphil wrote: »

I'm not convinced by the average £499 figure for the South West. Here in sunny Cornwall we pay not far short of £1000 for a Band C property, unmetered.A £50 annual subsidy from the Government is hardly going to be a vote winner!

Two people in a metered property with average consumption for UK(55 cubic metres each) will pay £658 at 2012/13 rates.

Water + Sewerage is £5.26/cubic metre + £80 standing charges.

I can only think that the low figure of £499 is because there must be a lot of rural properties without mains sewers.

Also a lot of older rural properties can have very low Rateable values.

Caddyman

Cardew wrote: »

Two people in a metered property with average consumption for UK(55 cubic metres each) will pay £658 at 2012/13 rates.

Water + Sewerage is £5.26/cubic metre + £80 standing charges.

I can only think that the low figure of £499 is because there must be a lot of rural properties without mains sewers.

Also a lot of older rural properties can have very low Rateable values.

This is clearly dependent on several other factors, including what part of the country you live in, the Company supplying the water and the Council Tax band of your property. I think personally based on your figures, my Wife and I are lucky. We live in a ten year old house that is in Band B in the middle of England, hence the low figure of £260 odd a year (average) we pay (on a water meter).

For information, we used 59 cubic metres of water last year. On the figures you quoted in your post, the water rates you quote must mean the supplying company have utterly horrendous water supply and standing charges. The last bill I paid in December 2012 for the preceding six months for actual water used including all charges, was £124.96. The bill before that one was £125.55. Personally, I'm all for water meters anyway, they seriously make you realise just how much water you use. Probably not very family friendly for those that just like to run the tap though!

Cardew

Caddyman wrote: »

This is clearly dependent on several other factors, including what part of the country you live in, the Company supplying the water and the Council Tax band of your property. I think personally based on your figures, my Wife and I are lucky. We live in a ten year old house that is in Band B in the middle of England, hence the low figure of £260 odd a year (average) we pay (on a water meter).

For information, we used 59 cubic metres of water last year. On the figures you quoted in your post, the water rates you quote must mean the supplying company have utterly horrendous water supply and standing charges. The last bill I paid in December 2012 for the preceding six months for actual water used including all charges, was £124.96. The bill before that one was £125.55. Personally, I'm all for water meters anyway, they seriously make you realise just how much water you use. Probably not very family friendly for those that just like to run the tap though!

I quoted the post I was replying to, so I was very clearly talking about South West Water - who have by far the most expensive water charges in UK. - which is why the Government is giving everyone a token subsidy of £50.

Water charges in other parts of the country can be a third of those charged in South West Water.

If you are unmetered, your charges are nothing to do with Council Tax banding. Charges are based on the property's Rateable Value(RV).

RV(termed 'The Rates') was method of charging 'local taxes' prior to 1990 when it was succeded by 'The Poll Tax' and then Council Tax.

RV was nothing to do with the value of the property, but based on the notional rent the property could command, and in many cases in England and Wales properties were last assessed in 1973. It depended on many factors including state of modernisation(by 1973 standards). So in extreme cases it is possible to get a Band H mansion with a lower RV than a Band A estate semi.

adamc260

What is the reason for the increase I wonder... We're not exactly short of water, we're surrounded by the stuff! I hate when companies spin the 'Increased costs' line for EVERYTHING.

pka_2

Cardew wrote: »

Two people in a metered property with average consumption for UK(55 cubic metres each) will pay £658 at 2012/13 rates.

Water + Sewerage is £5.26/cubic metre + £80 standing charges.

I can only think that the low figure of £499 is because there must be a lot of rural properties without mains sewers.

Also a lot of older rural properties can have very low Rateable values.

Spot on, that is near as dammit what our water bill is. Two people in a metered property. Oh the price we have to pay for living in a beautiful part of the country.......