Cheaper Water Bills Article Discussion

Alan_Wednesday wrote: »

By using rateable value and other guesstimates the water companies have been taking the mick for decades, the savings forumers report of hundreds apply to thousands of consumers. Isn't it about time for a campaign specifically to change Laws and stop this profiteering ? It is no longer enough to find individual savings when so many are being ripped off, especially through third party 'agency agreement' situations.

Some people save by having Rateable Value charges.


Whilst not defending Water Companies who make massive profits, you need to understand how water companies are funded before making accusations of 'profiteering'.


As water companies have a monopoly for their area, their finances are strictly controlled by the Regulator(ofwat)


In simplistic terms every company is allowed to raise £xxxmillion in revenue and make £yymillion profit provided they meet certain targets(leaks etc).



Thus it doesn't matter to the water company how their revenue is raised they still can adjust other charges to raise the authorised amount. e.g. if, say, 10,000 customers got a meter and each saved £100pa(£1million) they would raise the £1million by raising other charges to compensate. A win/win situation.



There are many Government websites on water company regulation; starting with this:


https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmenvfru/1041/1041.pdf

I have lived in a new build house since 2012 with a water meter and paid under £20 a month direct debit with little variation. In November I got a bill from Severn Trent indicating my usage was 5 times Normal amount and my direct debit would be rising to £85 a month ! I queried this and they sent out a man to re read the water meter. It was as they said and he ran a series of checks for leaks. He discovered an overflow was trickling from the pressurised hot water cylinder but because it was not easily visible and just ran into the drainage system rather than anywhere obvious to see I had been blissfully unaware. I now have a nearly £500 bill just before Christmas and Severn Trent although initially indicating they may write this off as I hadn’t actually ‘used’ the water have now said because it was a leak from an ‘appliance’ I am responsible for the bill. I obviously had the problem fixed as soon as I knew about it and am now providing new meter readings 10 days apart so the water company can confirm my actual usage BUT is there anything I can do to get this big underpayment written off ? I’m only paying for it because I’m on a meter and it just doesn’t seem fair. I would never recommend anyone getting a meter voluntarily after this experience

ezglide1450 wrote: »

I’m only paying for it because I’m on a meter and it just doesn’t seem fair. I would never recommend anyone getting a meter voluntarily after this experience

I appreciate few of us do so, but a meter is there to be read by the company and occupant.

The 10 day readings are only asked for if they intend to make an adjustment. There are no hard and fast rules for a goodwill payment for leakage. If you make a fuss(nicely at first!) they may soften their stance; if not threaten to go to Ombudsman; albeit he will normally side with the company.

Don't forget:

if you are worried about burst pipes because your water company is forcing you onto a meter, you can always get the water totally disconnected and purchase a rainwater-harvesting system, for which you will have to inform Building Control. However the water company may make infrastructure charges for a disconnection.