Compulsory water meter??

chugalug

I've moved recently from a property with a water meter to an unmetered property. I don't want a meter but I've had a letter from Southern Water informing me that they're coming to fit one. Do I have to have it??

My last water bill was horrendous - there's only one adult and one child, no garden, no dishwasher, washing machine 3 times a week and showers instead of baths and I still owe them money. According to the meter reading I used 17 units of water (whatever that is) per month. this seems really high to me but apparently everything's correct:mad:

Did I read somewhere about saving money with a meter and if you didn't you could have your bill capped at what it would be under the rateable value? Or is that wishful thinking.............. Help!!

HugoSP

IIRC there is only one regional water co that can do this, and I dont't think it's yours.

Essex springs to mind.

Have a chat with these guys:

http://www.ccwater.org.uk/

I don't think they can fit one without your concent. You should contact them and tell them you don't want one. According to the above site, even if you elect to have one fitted you can elect to go back to unmeasured charges within 12 months.

If you can't get on with the water company then these guys will take the matter on board for you.

WRT your last para. this applies if they cannot fit a meter for technical reasons.

Hapless_2

Eventually water meters will become compulsary everywhere.
In Sussex water meters are put in where there is change of tenant/owner
https://www.southernwater.co.uk/customerServices2006/meters/

Meters
We believe that water metering is the fairest way to charge for water.
A household on a meter pays for the amount of water used rather than an amount set by the rateable value of the property.
Metering is also good for the environment because people on a meter tend to waste less water.

Provided it is practical to achieve there is no cost to have a water meter fitted and for many households it can make significant savings on bills.
All new houses built since 1989 have been fitted with water meters.
Households which have a swimming pool or use a garden sprinkler or unattended water device such as a hosepipe must have a meter fitted by law.
In Sussex, a meter is fitted for homes when there is a change of occupier and a meter is not already in place.

How the 2 of you could use 17 cubic metres (how the meter works) per month is beyond me as we only use 28 per quarter (6 of us).

chugalug

That's what I thought - when there were 4 of us at home I was paying £40 per month which just about covered our usage. My 2 eldest left home and my DD went down to £20 pm. 10 months later I owe them £140 even though a year ago I was £80 in credit!!!!!!!!!!! Should I argue this bill even though I moved out a month ago? - I have only just got the bill. Would they do anything about it now??

Cardew

HugoSP wrote: »

IIRC there is only one regional water co that can do this, and I dont't think it's yours.

Essex springs to mind.

Have a chat with these guys:

http://www.ccwater.org.uk/

I don't think they can fit one without your concent. You should contact them and tell them you don't want one. According to the above site, even if you elect to have one fitted you can elect to go back to unmeasured charges within 12 months.

If you can't get on with the water company then these guys will take the matter on board for you.

WRT your last para. this applies if they cannot fit a meter for technical reasons.

Hugo,
I believe you are confused with 2 diferent regulations on this.

On change of occupier the water company can insist on a meter being fitted, although while some don't enforce that regulation, others do. This is what I posted a few days ago:

This is an extract from the regulations - from a water company website:


Quote:

All water companies have the legal power, under the Water Industry Act
1999, to insist on the installation of a meter in the following situations:

.... >>>
Change in ownership and/or occupancy of a dwelling, ....

As I said in my earlier post some water companies don't seem to enforce that regulation. However other companies do and there have been posts on this forum complaining that they fell foul of that regulation being implimented.

see for one thread http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...ter+occu pier

I suspect the water company person you spoke to was confused with a regulation that allows companies to insist on meters being installed even for existing occupiers(i.e. with no change of ownership) in areas of water shortage.

The 'change back within 12 months' regulation only applies to existing occupiers - not on change of occupier.

For the OP. the average consumption for 2 people is 10 cubic metres per month; so you were using 70% more than average - or you had a leak.

Anyway the bottom line is that they can insist on fitting a meter.