Unmetered water when bans kick in 9 August 2022 at 3:10PM in Water bills 21 replies 666 views

savers_united

With the talk of hose pipe bans etc being introduced and in some areas already happening do those like myself at a £80 a month unmetered property get any kind of reduction? I read today this dry weather could stretch to October so I could be looking at a few months of limited use. Although I do not waste water and a meter would likely work out cheaper it does seem a bit unfair if paying £80 a month and being forced to use less when I already am using less than £80 a months worth. 

Bradden

Could your water company install a metered supply?

freesha

No. You always have the option to ask for a meter. Why haven't you already done so, especially if you 'know' you're using less than £80pm?

savers_united

I agree a meter would be cheaper and yes I can have one fitted, just prefer having a fixed cost and find it easier to budget with no nasty surprises.

Would have been nice that for the months the bans were in place there would have been a universal reduction in the monthly charge as £80 does buy alot of water / sewage per month looking at metered charges. 

Rodders53

savers_united said:

I agree a meter would be cheaper and yes I can have one fitted, just prefer having a fixed cost and find it easier to budget with no nasty surprises.

I have a meter and have a fixed DD that only rises with annual price rises or if I decide to use a lot more water than usual for some reason I can't think of right now.  I read the meter every month and will never get a surprise, e.g. from a leak in the home as I'd be alerted by a higher reading.

Swipe

It's up to the OP if they'd prefer not to save £40-50 a month by having a meter

Cardew

savers_united said:

I agree a meter would be cheaper and yes I can have one fitted, just prefer having a fixed cost and find it easier to budget with no nasty surprises.

Would have been nice that for the months the bans were in place there would have been a universal reduction in the monthly charge as £80 does buy alot of water / sewage per month looking at metered charges. 

The hosepipe ban is not driven by financial pressure, but the need to save the increasing scarce resource - namely water.

Using your reasoning, would you suggest those paying unmetered charges and living in a flat(and presumably not having a hosepipe) should also have a  reduction?

savers_united

Cardew said:

savers_united said:

I agree a meter would be cheaper and yes I can have one fitted, just prefer having a fixed cost and find it easier to budget with no nasty surprises.

Would have been nice that for the months the bans were in place there would have been a universal reduction in the monthly charge as £80 does buy alot of water / sewage per month looking at metered charges. 

The hosepipe ban is not driven by financial pressure, but the need to save the increasing scarce resource - namely water.

Using your reasoning, would you suggest those paying unmetered charges and living in a flat(and presumably not having a hosepipe) should also have a  reduction?

That is a different argument as a flat would have a much lower rate as unmetered charges are based on RV. 
Also when you buy / rent a flat you know if its possible to use a hosepipe, I guess those on ground floor could but if your in a penthouse then unlikely. I have a garden front and back, with flowerbeds etc, and although my usage is below £80 per month having gardens I do feel happier with a fixed cost and happy to pay more for that security, but do find having my use restricted which is going to see me use at most £30 per month now unfair when paying £80, happy to comply and not use the hose pipe and whatever restrictions are in place but some kind of rebate should be made in my view. 

Cardew

savers_united said:

 

The hosepipe ban is not driven by financial pressure, but the need to save the increasing scarce resource - namely water.

Using your reasoning, would you suggest those paying unmetered charges and living in a flat(and presumably not having a hosepipe) should also have a  reduction?

That is a different argument as a flat would have a much lower rate as unmetered charges are based on RV. 

That simply isn't the case.

The Rateable Value(RV) was based on the notional rent a property could command prior to 1990 and I can assure you that the RV for flats was often higher than comparable houses as they could command a higher rent.

However even if that were the case, what action do you suggest water companies should take? Inspect every property to decide on the reduction in charges? Give a blanket reduction?

The obvious answer is to make metering mandatory.

savers_united

Cardew said:

savers_united said:

 

The hosepipe ban is not driven by financial pressure, but the need to save the increasing scarce resource - namely water.

Using your reasoning, would you suggest those paying unmetered charges and living in a flat(and presumably not having a hosepipe) should also have a  reduction?

That is a different argument as a flat would have a much lower rate as unmetered charges are based on RV. 

That simply isn't the case.

The Rateable Value(RV) was based on the notional rent a property could command prior to 1990 and I can assure you that the RV for flats was often higher than comparable houses as they could command a higher rent.

However even if that were the case, what action do you suggest water companies should take? Inspect every property to decide on the reduction in charges? Give a blanket reduction?

The obvious answer is to make metering mandatory.

I predict that if everyone is moved to a meter then prices will increase as revenue will fall for water companies. There are lots out there like myself paying more than those using a meter for same use. Mine at £80 is quite high but there are friends of mine in similar situation paying almost £100, we were all told years ago a meter would cost alot more and stick to unmetered. It was only during lockdown and some spare time I actually worked out my approx use and unit rates for meters in my area and it was coming out around £50pm over the year, so maybe if hose pipe bans become the norm it will force me to a meter as without being able to use the hose pipe I am not just paying too much, I am getting screwed.

The RV is all over the place as some round my way are unmetered and paying less than £50 a month with bigger properties, more bathrooms etc. So they would be silly to move even with hosepipe ban, but for me this may be the kick I need. 

pochase

So we are stupid to tell most people to go onto metered? It will increase our own cost if they pay less on metered.