Confused and need help please

kentyy

I am confused and was hoping you could help.


I was switched to a metered bill with southern water (I am in east Kent)


The first letter says 'meter reading when we turned it on as of 24 november 2014 = 30m3
Is this normal? Should it not start at 0?


I now have my first water metered bill that is very high and I don't understand what is happening. Can someone let me know if the following figures are correct please as I am terrible with numbers..
I am quite happy to pay for any water I have used, but I want to ensure I'm not paying for water I haven't used.


This new metered bill says
meter reading when we turned on your meter 24nov2014 30
meter reading after three months 02mar2015 64
total volume of water used (1m3-1,000 litres) 34m3
since we turned on your water meter, the average daily water usage for your household = 343litres. The average person uses 150 litres a day.
Your total spend for the year will be around £498
If you were still getting your old bill it would be £345 for the year.


I called southern water because I was very surprised at the high cost.
The woman explained that yes I do use only a little water (approx 9litres a day) but that when I had family to stay for 6 days at one bath a night, it put the price right up.
They told me to do a tap test, which was done and there was no change in the number.


I live in a one bed flat on my todd so no one else uses the water.
I had a leak (that I did not know about) that was fixed when the plumber changed the taps for me and said the leak had been there a while, so I'm guessing this took up a fair amount of my daily amount. I don't use very much water because I am disabled. A carer brings a small bowl of water to me to wash etc daily and about 2/3 times a week the carer helps me get to the bath for a shower & hair wash that takes about 15 mins, which I know this part will use up a fair amount of water. Washing machine used once a fortnight, no dishwasher just small bowl of water for washing up. Have half flush on loo etc


What I don't understand is, why did the meter start at 30, (but does this matter if they are not charging me, also, why is the charge so high when I don't think I use much water?


I got someone to look at my meter yesterday and it said 00067 and my neighbours (one person in flat there too) said 00012. that is a huge difference.




Can anyone shed some light on this for me please.

Cardew

Firstly if the meter had started at 00000 and it was now 00064 you would have used a lot more water.


That said if those readings(00030 & 00064) for 98 days are correct you would be using well over twice the average consumption for a single person at 126m3 pa.


However if the meter reading was 00064 on 02 March and is now(13 April) 00067 you have used 3m3 in 44 days which equates to 25m3 a year - which is less than half the average consumption for one person.


It all points to the initial meter reading being wrong or the leak far worse than you thought. - I suspect the latter.


You could ring them and explain the situation and ask them for a 'goodwill' allowance to cover the period when it was leaking.

macman

It doesn't matter whether the meter started on 00000 or 00030, what matters is whether the opening read was correct on the day you switched to metered billing.
If you are disabled then you might qualify for Watersure, however I'd wait and see what your longer term billing is like before applying, as it could end up being more expensive for you, if you are a low user, which you appear to be.
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/consumer_w/consumer_water_supply_e/consumer_problems_with_paying_your_water_bill_e/watersure_scheme_help_with_paying_water_bills.htm

jbainbridge

Leaks from taps or toilets can use a surprising amount of water. If the leak is now fixed you should see much reduced bills.

I'd suggest taking meter readings yourself over the next couple of days to reassure yourself.