Water meters - pros and cons?

Cardew

dab43 wrote: »

I have just had a water meter fitted.
Does anyone know how to convert the figures you read off to money/cost.
So I can get an idea how much I am spending on water?.

Your meter reads cubic metres(m3)(and fractions of a cubic metre)

You need to go to your water company website and there will be a figure of xxx pence for a cubic metre of water, and another yyy pence for sewerage.

It depends where you live but the combined figure for a cubic metre of water and sewerage can range from just under £2 to over £5(in the South West). There are also annual standing charges for water and sewerage, and in some cases a further charge for surface water drainage.

dawnie1972

Am moving into a new house between xmas & new year - just rung the water company and the house is not on a water meter. I am a single person and will be living in a 2 bedroom end terrace. The previous tenants were a couple and the water company have said the annual bill was £490. I have a shower every morning (there is no bath in the property) and do on average 1 load of washing a week (no dishwasher). However ...........the water company have said they will NOT fit a water meter as my tenancy contract is 6 months AST!!

Red_Gaz

I am keen to see what people think, we have recently renovated our house & approximately doubled its size from what it was. It was a traditional 3 bed semi. We have always been on water rates but would it actually be better to be on a meter - I think no but not sure

We now have a new born baby and so the washing machine is on a lot more and since the renovation we now have diswasher and underfloor heating also. We do not skimp on the water usage

Do people think that the rates would be low as it would have had a lower RV than if calculated now? We pay about £50 a month / £600 pa

Cardew

Red_Gaz wrote: »

I am keen to see what people think, we have recently renovated our house & approximately doubled its size from what it was. It was a traditional 3 bed semi. We have always been on water rates but would it actually be better to be on a meter - I think no but not sure

We now have a new born baby and so the washing machine is on a lot more and since the renovation we now have diswasher and underfloor heating also. We do not skimp on the water usage

Do people think that the rates would be low as it would have had a lower RV than if calculated now? We pay about £50 a month / £600 pa

Welcome to the forum.

Officially you have no choice but to have a meter as the regulations specifically state that any major extentions should be declared to your water company and a meter fitted.

However nobody ever bothers(who can blame them?) and the water companies don't check up.

Secondly your RV cannot be recalculated - there is simply no mechanism to do so, and hasn't been since April 1990.

You don't say what water company serves your area; so it is not possible to estimate if a meter would save you money.

Assuming 3 people in the house(including baby) average annual consumption would be around 160 cubic metres.

The price for water and sewerage varies tremendously across the country from under £2 for a cubic metre to well over £5 in the South West + standing charges. so your metered bills could be anything from £300pa to well over £800pa.

It is fair to say that in most areas you would pay considerably less than £600 for metered supply - if you look up your companies website you will find out the charges - or phone them.

It is also pertinent to point out that you can have a meter fitted and if it doesn't work out cheaper, you can revert back to your current charging method within 12 months.

glittermonster

i currently pay £31 a month on my water bill - its now just me and a 1 year old.

I'm out all day at work, shower each morning (quite a long one but could make it shorter) and he has a bath every other night

maybe 2 loads of washing a week, no dishwasher.

Any thoughts on whether a water meter would help?

HappyMJ

glittermonster wrote: »

i currently pay £31 a month on my water bill - its now just me and a 1 year old.

I'm out all day at work, shower each morning (quite a long one but could make it shorter) and he has a bath every other night

maybe 2 loads of washing a week, no dishwasher.

Any thoughts on whether a water meter would help?

Who is your water company? You can look the rates up on their website. Assuming you use a little under average at 50 cubic metres per person per year and assuming your water costs £2 per cubic metre and assuming you have £100 of standing charges then you could have an annual bill of £300 and save something. Do you pay every month or do you only pay for 10 months of the year. You could save £6 a month if you currently pay over 12 months or £1 per month if you pay over 10 months.

Cardew

glittermonster wrote: »

i currently pay £31 a month on my water bill - its now just me and a 1 year old.

I'm out all day at work, shower each morning (quite a long one but could make it shorter) and he has a bath every other night

maybe 2 loads of washing a week, no dishwasher.

Any thoughts on whether a water meter would help?

Is that £31 for 12 months in the year, or 10 months?

You don't say where you live and what water company is your supplier.

You need to tell us your Rateable Value(RV) - it will be on bill.

If you post some details of your bill - we might be able to advise better.

In any case you can try a meter and if it doesn't turn out to be cheaper you can revert back to your current system of charging(within 12 months - 24 months with some companies)

punkie

i am not happy with my water company, southwest water are the most expensive in the country. I used to be on a meter in my old flat and i paid my bill by direct debit every month, it was managable at 40 quid a month for me and my two teenagers and visiting boyfriend. Then I had to move to another flat, no water meter, they wanted to charge me 62 quid a month for me and two teenagers (one of whom only lives here at weekends) I dont really have the budget for that. So I asked if they could put a meter in - I don't expect to have water and not pay for it. It took them 3 months to figure out I cannot have a metre in the property (its rented and the way the bathroom is set out - there is no room for a metre.). So I am 3 months behind with my bill so they decide to send me a CCJ. Which I prompty relpy to - so they now want to bill me 80 quid a month, which they have done for the past 11 months. I have struggled to pay this every month, I cannot make my bill any smaller because of the way southwest water decide that you are a 'multi-occupancy property' because there is three people in the house. That actually seems like an average property not multi-occupancy!!!!! And i have no control because southwest water cannot figure out a way to put a metre in my rented property. So the upshot of all of this is.....I am minimal wage worker with 2 teenagers and I cannot afford water. So although I have paid 700 quid I still owe 300 quid...???? for the rest of the year, I am miffed and worn out by this, I dont have any holidays, I live frugally and now I have to move into a caravan because I am in debt over WATER.....what is that all about - the water company did work it all out for me and told me that if i pay 37 quid a WEEK up until march i will be paid off. In the meantime because I have missed a few payments (always stayed intouch with them to offer something) they have CCj 'd me a couple of times which actually makes you feel like a criminal. I now realize I cannot afford to live in this country, utilitie bills are way above and beyond my means.....am just sorry I didn't do better at maths when i was at school x
debs

Cardew

Agreed- SW water charges are a disgrace.

If they can't fit a meter, then you are entitled to an assessed charge which according to their website is either £384 or £434 pa for multi-person occupancy.

They do have a plan to help people having difficulty with their bills - called WaterCare+

http://www.southwestwater.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=9198

glittermonster

i'll find my bill and check these things out