Smart Water Meter

ab101

I've had a water meter since they were made available decades ago but I've just recieved a letter saying that it's going to be replaced by a smart water meter and there is no right to refuse, which seems at odds with the governments strategy on energy smart meters. I cant seem to find much on the rollout and rules and regulations online so is this really true?  

I'm not against smart meters per se but a bit irked I wasn't given a choice, and slightly concerned about what they're going to do with my hourly usage data. Plus of course we're all paying for the rollout in our bills at a time when they're already high.

Thanks.    

MattMattMattUK

ab101 said:

I've had a water meter since they were made available decades ago but I've just recieved a letter saying that it's going to be replaced by a smart water meter and there is no right to refuse, which seems at odds with the governments strategy on energy smart meters. I cant seem to find much on the rollout and rules and regulations online so is this really true?     

Yes, it is true you cannot refuse.

ab101 said:

I'm not against smart meters per se but a bit irked I wasn't given a choice, and slightly concerned about what they're going to do with my hourly usage data. 

They are not going to do anything with your ToU data which will make much difference to you, the idea of collecting it is to get accurate district usage patterns so they can manage supply better pressure in different areas, but the main reason for installing smart water meters is to reduce the cost of having them read.

ab101 said:

Plus of course we're all paying for the rollout in our bills at a time when they're already high.

Costs for these type of things would have been set around five years ago as part of the Ofwat supply contract, for smart water meters they are actually pretty low and close to cost neutral due to the reduction in needing to read the water meters. 

Sterlingtimes

Severn Trent issued this press release on 3rd March 2025. I thought that back in 2025, the 3rd of March was a Monday.

Severn Trent kicks off £20m smart metering project for Cov and Warks!

Thursday 3rd March 2025

Severn Trent kicks off £20m smart metering project for Cov and Warks! | News Releases | News | Severn Trent Water (stwater.co.uk)

Sterlingtimes

I do not understand this statement from Severn Trent.

The new meters won’t be used to bill you

There will be no change to how you’re billed. We won’t be using these new meters to bill you for your water use. There is no charge for having the meter installed.

New meters in your area | My water meter | My Account | Severn Trent Water (stwater.co.uk)

Cardew

Sterlingtimes said:

I do not understand this statement from Severn Trent.

The new meters won’t be used to bill you

There will be no change to how you’re billed. We won’t be using these new meters to bill you for your water use. There is no charge for having the meter installed.

New meters in your area | My water meter | My Account | Severn Trent Water (stwater.co.uk)

I assume because some people do not pay metered water rates, but still pay water charges based on the old Rateable Value(RV) of the property. Thus it is to re-assure them that they will still pay charges based on RV.

Cardew

I am with Severn Trent and had a 'smart meter' fitted a few years ago; my meter is inside the house.

Actually 'fitted' is not accurate because it was a module fitted to the existing meter to enable it be read externally when interogated by the meter reader without the need for him to enter the house. The module is battery powered and apparently should last several years - mine has not been changed.

I understand the new smart meters are sending information on consumption constantly(or every xxx seconds/minutes.

Sterlingtimes

Cardew said:

I am with Severn Trent and had a 'smart meter' fitted a few years ago; my meter is inside the house.

Actually 'fitted' is not accurate because it was a module fitted to the existing meter to enable it be read externally when interogated by the meter reader without the need for him to enter the house. The module is battery powered and apparently should last several years - mine has not been changed.

I understand the new smart meters are sending information on consumption constantly(or every xxx seconds/minutes.

Thank you, Cardew. So it appears that the new Smart Meters will replace the radio meters.

Sterlingtimes

I had my smart water meter fitted today by Severn Trent beneath the pavement at the bottom of my drive. How do these underground meters communicate back to base? Do they use the standard mobile network?  

[Deleted User]

Obviously, someone has taken note of the energy smart meter fiasco: consumers have no say in the decision to fit a smart meter.

https://www.anglianwater.co.uk/services/water-meters/upgraded-meters/

Thames and Anglian Water appear to be using the Arqiva Long Range Radio Network.

fastlane258

[Deleted User] said:

Obviously, someone has taken note of the energy smart meter fiasco: consumers have no say in the decision to fit a smart meter.

Thames and Anglian Water appear to be using the Arqiva Long Range Radio Network.

By any Chance do you know what radio networks Affinty Water and Southern Water use. I live on the border of both and residents want more information.

Sterlingtimes

Severn Trent is using Itron/Connexin in the Coventry/Warwickshire trial. 

This is my new Smart Meter installed a few days ago under a pavement cover.



Radio Frequency Features Protocol wM-Bus T2/C2, LoRaWAN™, Sigfox®, OMS v4 Modulation FSK, BPSK (Sigfox®), CSS (LoRa®) Frequency carrier 868 MHz ISM Band Radiated power < 25 mW Battery lifetime Up to 15 years* Functional Specifications Power source Lithium batteries Protection IP 68 Relative humidity 0 to 100% - submersible Operating temperature** -10°C / +55C*** Accidental temperature -20°C / +70°C