Shock new bill with standing charges

scopio

Severn Trent water bill difference

I’m a single retired man living in a flat on my own, I do not have a garden to water and I do not have a car to wash so my water usage is very limited hence I have one of the new water meters.

My water bills have always been from as little as £10.56 in 2022 increasing yearly to £19.64 in 2025, so I got a shock when I received the bill for February 2026 for £66.62! For same water usage. This is the first time that I have been added standing charges. Are this standing charges new?

TOTAL SPENDING FOR YOUR BILL

Total billing period: 03February2025-01August2025 = 179days

Total water usage 3m3

Fresh water Waste water Highway drainage

Total spend £7.06 Total spend £4.08 Total spend £8.50

Balance before your bill £0.00

Total for billing period 03 February 2025-01 August 2025 £19.64

BALANCE AFTER YOUR BILL £19.64

Total billing period: 01 August 2025 – 3 February 2026 = 186 days

Total water usage 3m3

Fresh waterWaste waterHighway drainage

Total spend £7.82Total spend £4.28Total spend £8.91 21.01

Total bill for 186 days £21.01 compared to 179 days £19.64 previous bill

Now with added water standing charge £25.57 and wastewater standing chare £20.04

Total bill £21.01 + £25.57 + £20.04 = £66.62

QrizB

I don't have any experience with Severn Trent, but both Thames Water and and Southern Water have had standing charges for as long as I can recall.

MattMattMattUK

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81870406#Comment_81870406

Severn Trent did/do have standing and fixed charges. For the OP that would have been a £105.78 per year.

It is also odd that the OP's usage is 3 cubic meters in both periods and using 0.6 cubic meters per month is incredibly low, that is only 20 litres a day.

QrizB

OP do you know where your water meter is, and can you read it yourself? If so, do the readings match those on your bill?

You have a flat; I wonder if the water meter that's being read actually serves your property? It could be a meter for somewhere else.

I remember a friend of a friend who worked at a commercial laundry. They had two water meters, one for the laundry itself and one for the tap in the yard that the van drivers used to wash their vans. For years the water company only ever billed them for the "van washing" meter ...

scopio

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81870468#Comment_81870468

It is my meter as the only other meter is not for Severn Trent but some other company. I know that the water supply to my flat only supplies the kitchen and the boiler, the toilet cistern and the bath and basin supply comes from another source not from my meter. I'm just astounded the high standing charges.