Seven Trent moved us to a water meter without us asking

Amazeamazeamaze

Some of the houses on our street have been put on water meter without any of use asking us to, they have not told us anything about the meter, where it is and how to monitor our usage, they aren’t helpful they just say some guy comes around every 6 months or so to read it. But how are we supposed to monitor our own water usage without a meter? Is this normal?

booneruk

Have you checked in your account page on the website? I see my (Thames Water) usage there.

Also, you're probably in an area of "serious water stress / water scarcity" where meters become compulsory.

Strange you weren't told though. I'd have thought they'd letter everyone affected

elsien

A little bit more information as to how this happened would be helpful as your post is a little bit vague.

ST put a meter in for my mother’s house but didn’t tell her and didn’t use any readings from it. She stayed on the rateable value for her bills.

Until she phoned them up to request a meter and was told there already was one somewhere on the pavement at the front of the house. Which they would then action to take readings from due to her request . Presumably added when they were doing some work in the area and dug everything up. Is this a similar scenario to you?

p00hsticks

When we lived in the ST area they had an exercise put meters in the pavement for all the houses on the street that didn't already have one as one piece of work, but you had to specifically ask to be billed by the meter rather than the rateable value. I imagine it was simper for them to dig up the whole street in one go rather than keep dealing with individaul properties. And it helps them to detect potential leaks. I thin kwe did get a general piece of paper through the door to tell us what they were doing and why.

Have you actually asked to be put on a meter ?

Ectophile

If it's not in your home, it'll be in the street, wherever your stop tap is. Look for a little manhole cover that wasn't there before.

If you want to see the meter, pry up the cover with a screwdriver. You may also need to take out a polystyrene packer. Then peer in to read the meter. But most people don't bother.

la531983

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6678182/seven-trent-moved-us-to-a-water-meter-without-us-asking

Yes, like above its out in the street, you are in no worse position than you were before in terms of knowing how much you have actually used. Difference being you probably be saving money (well, most will)

oldagetraveller1

My Daughter had similar with South Staffs Water. Meter installed without being requested.

However, they did communicate first. Something to do with an obligation to fit them in areas where the consumption was high?

QrizB

But how are we supposed to monitor our own water usage without a meter? Is this normal?

If you're expecting an in-home display like you get with a smart electricity meter, you're out of luck.

Some smart water meters allow you to see live readings via the water company's website, but most need to be read manually (by lifting the cover in the street, removing the polystyrene packer, baling out the hole with a sponge and then wiping any sediment from the meter glass).

Lorian

If they have installed it and not moved you over to metered supply just remember it could save you money depending on your occupants and usage profile. It would be worth reading it on the 1st of each month for a couple of months and doing the calc, post the readings here if you prefer. You will need to peer down the hole it's installed in to read it.

Albermarle

In our area ( one of water stress) the supplier fitted water meters whether you wanted one or not. For around two years we had a choice to stay with standard bills, or switch over to the meter. The latter would happen automatically anyway after two years.

There was lots of info and even if you stayed on the standard tariff, they sent comparisons of what the cost would have been using the meter. They are read electronically by someone with the right kit driving past AFAIK.

As is usually the case, but not always, changing to the meter saved us money - about £100 a year.

Amazeamazeamaze

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82087163#Comment_82087163

we were told, just had a bill stating we are now metered and we have to monitor our usage. But we don’t have any way of reading the meter to monitor. They said they drive by every six months to read ir