Water meters - pros and cons?

Lolli101

Not sure about this.

Positives, my dad had one installed and pays £12.00 a month.

I pay £29.76 x 10 months so would love to make similar savings as my dad but I read online that I might have to have the wiring updated in my flat? Well that confused me and on income support right now so certainly can't afford electric works so I gave up researching. Anyone know if thats right about electrics?

However my Mum asked Affinity for a meter and they told her she won't save any money by having one? Well think thats abit bias really. Even if she saved £4.00 to £5.00 each month thats approx £60.00 each year and thats a good saving to a pensioner in a rented property and paying £12,000 a year for her carers and almost out of savings!

I know I'm not allowed to refer other sites but I found a site that has a water meter calculator so think I'll try that out and see if Affinity are right.

chambta

I'm having a meter installed on behalf of Severn Trent next week. I pay £580pa-ish for a modest 3-bed semi. With two adults and two small kids I hope to see a small saving. If not it's going.

John_Pierpoint

Cardew wrote: »

The OP's post was nearly 9 years ago; so I hope he has made up his mind by now;)

Quite obviously some people gain from getting a meter - others would lose.

The Rateable Value(RV) of the property and number of occupants are the main factors.

How much has your rate per tonne (1,000 litres) gone up during that time?

Cardew

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

How much has your rate per tonne (1,000 litres) gone up during that time?

No idea.

I read that water charges have increased(inflation adjusted) since 1990 by 45%.

John_Pierpoint

What I can say is in 2002 I was paying £0.65 per tonne. In 2012 I paid £1.22 per tonne, though there has been some messing about with the standing charge for the half inch supply pipe in the mean time. [Possibly in an attempt to appease the "can't pay , won't pay" brigade that are costing the rest of us a small fortune].

Were I to retire from the driest county Essex to the (South) West Country, one of the wetter areas (and get the luxury of mains drainage) I would get a nasty shock.

It puts a whole new meaning on the term "spending a penny".

linaholli

Hello,

I'm also considering installing a meter, but does anyone have any idea how much it would cost to get one installed in central London?

Thanks,

Cardew

linaholli wrote: »

Hello,

I'm also considering installing a meter, but does anyone have any idea how much it would cost to get one installed in central London?

Thanks,

Thames Water must install it for nothing!

If a meter cannot be fitted(often the case in flats) then you are offered an 'assessed' rate. Details on Thames website.

datlex

I have a water meter have had one just over a year now. My bills before were £37 a month, now they are £20 a month. I have a one bed flat, so even if I did share would only be two of us- so bills unlikely to go over what had paid before getting meter as bills wouldn't double (things like water in heating, washing up, cooking would remain similar)

I haven't changed my usage, so except for the price hikes the bills won't rise. I did experiment with one so called water saving thing- switching off shower whilst applying soap, I found the water when I put it back on first came out too hot then went cold and I probably used at least as much water as I would have had I left it on..... so don't use that any more. I have things such as a one cup boiler so only boil one cup of water when make a drink (highly recommended- you can get a cuppa in 30 secs and you don't even have to pour it from the kettle), don't have a bath only a shower at present. Have been told by Landlord (Housing Association) might be eligible for a new bathroom, they are checking records so might be able to save with a more modern sink and toilet.

Currently trying to do up the shared garden (mine and upstairs flat) will get a water butt for that- so no extra cost there.

MrActuary

I just had one fitted to my old man's house. Early results looks like bill cut from £50 rates to about £25 on a meter. That's before I've done nothing to reduce usage..... Pressure seems very high and old fittings so assume there are some further savings to be made :-)

anotheruser

Surely it all depends on the house though.
I pay £200 a year for my water use, non-meter. I consider that to be very good value. But then I guess if I paid £70 every 6 months then that is a lot cheaper.