Estimated water bill charge 4 September 2018 at 11:16AM in Water bills 6 replies 1.7K views

bikeman17

Hello,

Currently with Essex water where for a couple in a 2 bed flat they are charging us £26 pounds a month. They said after 6 months, they will calculate actual usage and either the credit will be used which has been built or top will need to be paid.

Anyone else on a similar billing method, and how has it been going?

takman

I hope you took a meter reading when you moved in.

I would take regular water meter readings at least monthly and keep a track on how much you are using and also to keep an eye on any possible leaks.

bikeman17

Yep, I took the reading when moved and submitted reading at month 2. Going forward they advised not to submit any further readings as this complicates their billing. Instead they will take a reading in month 6 and bill the correct usage.

brewerdave

bikeman17 wrote: »

Hello,

Currently with Essex water where for a couple in a 2 bed flat they are charging us £26 pounds a month. They said after 6 months, they will calculate actual usage and either the credit will be used which has been built or top will need to be paid.

Anyone else on a similar billing method, and how has it been going?

Basically that's how any Water Co. will work when you start from ground zero eg meter first installed or new occupants.:)
When we had our meter first installed ,the DD was set too low - after 6 months or so, they increased the DD slightly but still left a deficit after the first year. They then jacked up the DD for year 2 to cover the increased usage and the deficit. In year 3 the DD dropped as we were virtually at a zero balance.

Cardew

bikeman17 wrote: »

Hello,

Currently with Essex water where for a couple in a 2 bed flat they are charging us £26 pounds a month. They said after 6 months, they will calculate actual usage and either the credit will be used which has been built or top will need to be paid.

Anyone else on a similar billing method, and how has it been going?

Does that £26 cover sewerage?



With Essex Water they collect payment for Thames Water if they provide sewerage facilities, but if you are with Anglian you will get a separate bill, see: https://www.eswater.co.uk/your-home/your-account/tariffs-and-charges.aspx


Average annual usage for a couple is between 100 to 110 cubic metres.*


So you can see from the link above with Thames that consumption would cost between £340 to £380pa


* many people state on MSE they use much less water.

teddysmum

We had a water meter fitted part way into a year where we were paying 12 monthly direct debits based on rateable value.


The lower rate for metered water only applied after the meter was fitted, but we started out in credit as a month on the old system had just been taken , so Severn Trent's calculation of usage resulted in a huge drop to under £4 a month.


We have been more careful, such as not flushing a toilet when home alone and not washing cars so often , but are still on just over £12, after a year. (couple in semi with garden laid to lawn)


I so wish we'd changed earlier.

deanos

Take a 2 reading a month apart then x12 , that's your estimated usage surely they can work that out for you and set up payments accordingly ?