New metre but higher bill despite lower than average usage

kentcouple

Hi

We got out first bill since becoming metered this week (obligatory now in east Kent.) Despite using less than the average person (223 litres per day for two of us, where southern water says the average is 150 per person) it seems we will now be paying 70 pounds more than we used to per year. We've already complained to southern water who said that's just the way it is. We're planning to escalate it and also to CCW if necessary. The usage seems right as we are very careful and we have no leaks etc but it seems wrong that we're paying substantially more than we used to fir what southern water regards as below average usage. We're a couple living in a small 2 bed cottage which by the forecasts should have made a meter better. Any similar experiences?

matelodave

Have you been reading the meter yourself, have you checked that your bill is based on an actual reading and not an estimate.

As you've now got a meter it's easy to read it regularly to make sure you don't have any leaks and to determine when and how much water you use.

In my view it's only fair that people should pay for what they use and having a meter allows them to monitor their consumption and reduce it if possible.

There are two of us and we use an average of 190l a day averaged over the year. That include showers,clothes washing, car washing and we've got an automatic garden watering system as well for when we are away although it's usually on from about May to September.

We are at home all day so using it during the day for loo flushing, coffee, rinsing and stuff. The kettle is only filled with the water that we need.

Our shower has a flow restrictor and we only spend 4-5 minutes each in it. The washing machine & dishwasher are only used with full loads and we don't leave taps running when washing, rinsing or teeth cleaning. All of our taps have flow restrictors.

All these not only save water but energy as well as you have less to heat


By the way, having a meter saves us over £200 compared with not having one.

Cardew

I am afraid that you have no grounds for complaint.


All houses properties built in the last 25 years have had meters fitted, and millions more have had meters fitted on change of occupant.


In April 1990 an exception was made to allow unmetered properties to remain without a meter as a 'temporary measure' as it might cause hardship for large families in properties with a low Rateable Value. Frankly the Government and water companies have been remiss in not imposing compulsory metering earlier.


Without being unkind(I hope) on what grounds do you think it unfair that you are now paying for water you use? - like the majority of others.


If you haven't been metered for the last 25 years -or however long you have lived in your property - your low charges have been subsidised by other owners/tenants paying extra.

kentcouple

matelodave wrote: »

Have you been reading the meter yourself, have you checked that your bill is based on an actual reading and not an estimate.

As you've now got a meter it's easy to read it regularly to make sure you don't have any leaks and to determine when and how much water you use.

In my view it's only fair that people should pay for what they use and having a meter allows them to monitor their consumption and reduce it if possible.

There are two of us and we use an average of 190l a day averaged over the year. That include showers,clothes washing, car washing and we've got an automatic garden watering system as well for when we are away although it's usually on from about May to September.

We are at home all day so using it during the day for loo flushing, coffee, rinsing and stuff. The kettle is only filled with the water that we need.

Our shower has a flow restrictor and we only spend 4-5 minutes each in it. The washing machine & dishwasher are only used with full loads and we don't leave taps running when washing, rinsing or teeth cleaning. All of our taps have flow restrictors.

All these not only save water but energy as well as you have less to heat


By the way, having a meter saves us over £200 compared with not having one.

as mentioned, our water usage is very low already and we agree with southern water on the amounts, no problem there and not much more to do to cut usage as we're already a lot lower than average.

The crux of the issue we have is a marked increase in prices since being metered despite low and accurate readings. I guess we can't be the only ones so wanted to post this here to are if anyone else is experiencing the same issue specifically.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

kentcouple wrote: »

Hi

We got out first bill since becoming metered this week (obligatory now in east Kent.) Despite using less than the average person (223 litres per day for two of us, where southern water says the average is 150 per person) it seems we will now be paying 70 pounds more than we used to per year. We've already complained to southern water who said that's just the way it is. We're planning to escalate it and also to CCW if necessary. The usage seems right as we are very careful and we have no leaks etc but it seems wrong that we're paying substantially more than we used to fir what southern water regards as below average usage. We're a couple living in a small 2 bed cottage which by the forecasts should have made a meter better. Any similar experiences?

The average use is 55m3 per year, which is approx 1 m3 a week, 1,000 litres per person. Your current usage is 1.5 m3 a week.

This would suggest there is a leak with the water.

To test. Turn off the water at the stop c0ck before the meter. Take reading. Do not flush toilet, se water over night. Read meter in morning. If it has moved, lower, the leak could be on the supply. This is unlikely.

Normally it has not moved. Turn on stop c0ck. If there is an inrush, the leak is on your side. These are normally cisterns in your home, that are prone to leaking.

kentcouple

Cardew wrote: »

I am afraid that you have no grounds for complaint.


All houses properties built in the last 25 years have had meters fitted, and millions more have had meters fitted on change of occupant.


In April 1990 an exception was made to allow unmetered properties to remain without a meter as a 'temporary measure' as it might cause hardship for large families in properties with a low Rateable Value. Frankly the Government and water companies have been remiss in not imposing compulsory metering earlier.


Without being unkind(I hope) on what grounds do you think it unfair that you are now paying for water you use? - like the majority of others.


If you haven't been metered for the last 25 years -or however long you have lived in your property - your low charges have been subsidised by other owners/tenants paying extra.

We have no problem paying for water we use. like others that come to mse, we are being proactive about checking bills and ensuring they are correct and fair hence looking into this rather than just rolling over and accepting a substantial hike for the same service based on guess work as to why this is.

Again, anyone in a similar position to us wanting to compare notes?

kentcouple

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth wrote: »

The average use is 55m3 per year, which is approx 1 m3 a week, 1,000 litres per person. Your current usage is 1.5 m3 a week.

This would suggest there is a leak with the water.

To test. Turn off the water at the stop c0ck before the meter. Take reading. Do not flush toilet, se water over night. Read meter in morning. If it has moved, lower, the leak could be on the supply. This I'd unlikely.

Normally it has not moved. Turn on stop c0ck. If there is an inrush, the leak is on your side. These are normally cisterns in your home, that are prone to leaking.

Many thanks for this information. Can I ask where you got those figures also? southern water are saying the average daily use per person is 150 litres per day and we're using 111.5 per person. Thanks again.

bsod

It's the same thing, 150 litres per day is 55m3 per year

It fairly easy to use far less than this

kentcouple

bsod wrote: »

It's the same thing, 150 litres per day is 55m3 per year

It fairly easy to use far less than this

The reason I asked the other poster is SW are telling us we're way below average.

bsod

if you are using 111 litres per person per day, you are below average (150litres per day or 55m3 pa each), but there's probably still scope for economising and checking for leaks

In a showering household, flushing the toilet and waiting for hot water to get to the sink is where most of the water goes.

Cardew

kentcouple wrote: »

We have no problem paying for water we use. like others that come to mse, we are being proactive about checking bills and ensuring they are correct and fair hence looking into this rather than just rolling over and accepting a substantial hike for the same service based on guess work as to why this is.

Again, anyone in a similar position to us wanting to compare notes?

You are not using too much water, as you say it is well below average.


It is your perception of unfairness that I find difficult to understand.


You are(or should be) paying exactly the same rate as all other metered customers in that part of Southern Water's area.


As said earlier, you, or the occupants of your property, have been paying low charges which have been subsidised by other customers for the past 25 years. Would you not consider that unfair?


So could you please explain why you feel this is unfair.