Water meters - pros and cons?

Thrifty_2

Hi candygirl,
Thanks for the reply i think i will get a meter fitted.
In answer to your question i believe if you wish to change back from a water meter back to a normal meter you need to change back in year 1.

emweaver

I found being on a meter more expensive, before we had our daughter so just 2 adults we paid £30 a month on meter plus had a bill of £300 at the end of the year outstanding. Went to rates with 2 adults and a baby and paid a flat £27 a mth, now weve moved again we are payin £40 a mth on a meter and we are really tight on our usage.

clio

I've got a question can anyone offer any advice...
My gran is on a water meter with south west water, she has just had major operation on her belly/bowels can she get any help because of the medical condition she now has or is the only way to get rid of the water meter, and go unmetered. the op she has had is a colostomy. cannot see anything on SWW website and they tend to take 20 minutes to answer the phone[ gives up waiting] my gran said, so i thought i,d ask here:)

Cardew

clio wrote: »

I've got a question can anyone offer any advice...
My gran is on a water meter with south west water, she has just had major operation on her belly/bowels can she get any help because of the medical condition she now has or is the only way to get rid of the water meter, and go unmetered. the op she has had is a colostomy. cannot see anything on SWW website and they tend to take 20 minutes to answer the phone[ gives up waiting] my gran said, so i thought i,d ask here:)

Well you cannot get rid of the water meter - that is simply not an option.

Every water company has provision for assistance for those with a medical condition that entails them using more water.

However the finer detail of what medical condition qualifies can only be determined with the water company - or ring the Consumer Council for Water for advice.

clio

Cardew
I've been looking at the ofwat website[link below] and it does state a stoma
qualifies for having water meter bill capped, so will look into getting in touch with SWW myself for extra info.
http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/consumerissues/prs_faq10_consissuesmeters

Headsabovewater

What you need to discuss with your water company is watersure.
Watersure was introduced in response to the regulations laid out by the Government to help customers who pay for their water on a measured basis and who might be facing hardship as a result of high water use for essential purposes.
Regulations to protect vulnerable groups were laid on 22 December 1999.
The Government set out the context for its approach in Water Industry Act
1999: Delivering the Government's Objectives, which was published on 3 February 2000.
Every water Supplier will have a Watersure Scheme available to there customers.

The Government guidelines are very specific about who is and isn't eligible for the Watersure Scheme

First and foremost your property must be billed via a water meter.
The amount of you bill must exceed the Watersure capped charge which at the moment stands at around £310.00 per year.

A resident of the household must be in receipt of at least one of the following benefits

Income Support
Income Based Job seekers Allowance
Housing Benefit
Council Tax Benefit
Child Tax Credit (except in receipt of the family element only)
Pension Credit
Working Tax Credit


The person who receives the Benefit must be responsible for at least three children under the 19 years, who must be permanently resident in the household,

You may also be eligible if you or someone who lives with you suffers from and is being treated for one for the following medical conditions:

-Desquamation (flaky skin disease)

-Weeping skin disease (eczema,psoriasis, varicose, ulceration)

-Incontinence

-Crohn's disease

-Ulcerative colitis

- Abdominal stomas

-Renal failure requiring dialysis at home, unless a contribution to the cost of water consumed in the process of dialysis during the billing period is made by the health authority

-Any other medical condition as certified by a registered medical practitioner, certification must include: the name of the patient, the diagnosis of the medical condition, the date of the certification, and together the name, address and signature of the registered medical practitioner and as a result of that condition is obliged to use significant additional volume of water.

Jaynee123

Please remember that if you get help with your water bills due to the number of children in your household, as soon as the number of children drops below 3 you will be stuck with a meter and no help with the bills!!! Our bill shot up from £28 to £58 per month without any warning and as we have had the meter for 3 years we are stuck with it! BEWARNED!!!!!

Jaynee 123

hardworking_bob

hmmmm, interesting stuff. BUT my water bill has just come in at £405 pounds for the the year. There is only me and my fiancee and it seems like a lot to me! Very tempted to get a water meter in as we both shower once a day each and use the washing machine 3/4 times a week...£40 per month over 10 months seems excessive....:mad:

Cardew

hardworking_bob wrote: »

hmmmm, interesting stuff. BUT my water bill has just come in at £405 pounds for the the year. There is only me and my fiancee and it seems like a lot to me! Very tempted to get a water meter in as we both shower once a day each and use the washing machine 3/4 times a week...£40 per month over 10 months seems excessive....:mad:

Well, as has been said many times, you can get a meter fitted and see which is cheaper.

In the unlikely event the meter is more expensive, you can revert back to your original tariff within 12 months.

Krissie

I have had terrible problems with my Water Board in Shropshire. The first year we went on the meter we saved £150. Great I thought! The next year...... wait for it.... £500! Not so great I thought! After many phone calls to our Water Board they eventually came and put in a new meter because it was shorting and causing the dial to move! I am awaiting the next bill but have been told it should be okay now. Do I believe them???
NOPE!