Water meter hasn't been read for ages!

nev.obrady

My water meter hasn't been read by United Utilities since 06/12/2022, although I do provide them with my own readings at the end of every month.

Can I claim a penalty payment under the new rules that came into force this summer?

matelodave

Why do you expect compensation?

If you give them readings and they bill you based on those readings there's nothing to compensate.

stripling

nev.obrady said:

My water meter hasn't been read by United Utilities since 06/12/2022, although I do provide them with my own readings at the end of every month.

Can I claim a penalty payment under the new rules that came into force this summer?

You don't actually know if it hasn't been read  unless you have reported it. This is because it could be an issue with the mobile digital readers. You need to speak to your water company who will investigate. This happened to me and it turned out the van was passing but the digital reader malfunctioned for 11 addresses. They won't know unless it is flagged. 

I had someone in the company monitor this for a couple of years. She chased it up every six months at billing time. Then the problem was solved. 

There is also a very small number of mobile 'readers' per region. 

nev.obrady

matelodave said:

Why do you expect compensation?

If you give them readings and they bill you based on those readings there's nothing to compensate.

MSE post about new rules for controlling water companies mentioned that if they hadn't read your meter for a set number of months you could claim compensation of £40.  I was mistaken in thinking that the rules came into force this summer, whereas they only come into force today, 01/10/25.

The water company should read the meter themselves periodically to ensure that the readings I'm giving are correct.  If I were a tenant, I could under report my usage to reduce my bills, then move on to another address leaving the landlord with the problem of my underpayment.

nev.obrady

stripling said:

nev.obrady said:

My water meter hasn't been read by United Utilities since 06/12/2022, although I do provide them with my own readings at the end of every month.

Can I claim a penalty payment under the new rules that came into force this summer?

You don't actually know if it hasn't been read  unless you have reported it. This is because it could be an issue with the mobile digital readers. You need to speak to your water company who will investigate. This happened to me and it turned out the van was passing but the digital reader malfunctioned for 11 addresses. They won't know unless it is flagged. 

I had someone in the company monitor this for a couple of years. She chased it up every six months at billing time. Then the problem was solved. 

There is also a very small number of mobile 'readers' per region. 

Our water meter is an old analogue meter.  It isn't digital so can't be read by a passing van.  Also, when the water company reads the meter, my bill says "read by us" as opposed to "read by you" when I submit my own reading.

nev.obrady

nev.obrady said:

matelodave said:

Why do you expect compensation?

This is the post to which I've referred: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2025/07/water-compensation-rising-england/ but it is unclear as to whether the 13-month rule applies regardless, or whether it's 13 months from October 2025.

nev.obrady

I wonder if the author of the article, Clare Casalis, would clarify?
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/team/clare-casalis/