Water meters

[don4l]

Do the water companies have a legal right to force you to have a water meter?

We have recently had a letter saying that we are due to have an inspection prior to having a meter fitted.

I would prefer to carry on as I am.

[TooMany2cvs]

don4l said:

Do the water companies have a legal right to force you to have a water meter?

Simple answer: "Maybe".

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http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11...

[Slushbox]

Depends on the supplier and shortages. Southern Water recently fitted compulsory water meters in our area.

Not an issue for me as I already had one and wouldn't go back to a non-metered supply charged on rateable value.

The usual metric for fitting one is if you have more bedrooms than occupants, but if you're a fervent gardener or car-washer or bath-taker, then who knows?

Even so, my last bill was £300 for six months, only £60 for water supply, the rest for taking it away, dealing with the rain falling off my house, and so on.

[Boosted LS1]

My understanding is that if you let them fit one, then it's there for good after 12 months. I haven't got one but they did ask me to have one.

[Mammasaid]

No, we had one and was removed and we went back to flat rate billing (United Utilities)

Try asking your supplier what their policy is.

[Rovinghawk]

I switched to a water meter- my bills are a third of what they were.

A friend had a water meter- despite a large young family the bills were massively reduced.

You'll probably be better off so accept it.

[Rude-boy]

With the exception of one person who was being a bit naughty with their usage I have yet to have anyone who has had a metre fitted that their bill has gone anything other than down.

[Riley Blue]

My experience is the same, water bills invariably fall after meter installation. An extreme example were my parents who, after retirement, spent a lot of time abroad. Their annual water bill reduced by over three quarters after they had a water meter fitted.

[Mr GrimNasty]

Same for me, but obviously it won't last, no way the utilities will accept a 30% or 50% etc. drop in revenue is there!

[don4l]

Rovinghawk said:

I switched to a water meter- my bills are a third of what they were.

A friend had a water meter- despite a large young family the bills were massively reduced.

You'll probably be better off so accept it.

There are only two of us, so I am fairly sure that our bill would be less. However, I like the fact that I can water the garden without thinking about the cost.

[motco]

Mr GrimNasty said:

Same for me, but obviously it won't last, no way the utilities will accept a 30% or 50% etc. drop in revenue is there!

[Rovinghawk]

don4l said:

I am fairly sure that our bill would be less. However, I like the fact that I can water the garden without thinking about the cost.

Water the garden & think about still being better off.

Edited by Rovinghawk on Monday 5th September 12:01

[Cliftonite]

Mr GrimNasty said:

Same for me, but obviously it won't last, no way the utilities will accept a 30% or 50% etc. drop in revenue is there!

A similar situation with electric cars. Notwithstanding the fact that there would not be enough mains electricity available for them, if every car were electrically powered no Government could afford to forego the fortune in fuel tax, VAT and VED currently taken from the motorist.

[motco]

Cliftonite said:

Mr GrimNasty said:

Same for me, but obviously it won't last, no way the utilities will accept a 30% or 50% etc. drop in revenue is there!

A similar situation with electric cars. Notwithstanding the fact that there would not be enough mains electricity available for them, if every car were electrically powered no Government could afford to forego the fortune in fuel tax, VAT and VED currently taken from the motorist.

...and PV solar panel subsidies and LPG car fuel. Milk it while it's going has to be the best advice.

[TooMany2cvs]

don4l said:

However, I like the fact that I can water the garden without thinking about the cost.

How much water are you using on your garden, ffs?

Our water supplier charges £1.35 per cubic metre - one m3 is, of course, 1000 litres. So that's 1.35p for a ten litre watering can full. Or, should I choose to fill all three 200 litre water butts from the tap instead of the shed roof, it'd cost me 81p...

[Matt_N]

don4l said:

Rovinghawk said:

I switched to a water meter- my bills are a third of what they were.

A friend had a water meter- despite a large young family the bills were massively reduced.

You'll probably be better off so accept it.

There are only two of us, so I am fairly sure that our bill would be less. However, I like the fact that I can water the garden without thinking about the cost.

You're already paying to water it now though?

Probably more than it'll cost on a meter too.

We were switched to a meter when we moved house, bill down from £57 pm to £31 based on actual usage after 6 months of meter readings, that's 2 adults and a toddler who has a bath everyday.

[MonkeyBusiness]

I had one fitted after reading that my bills would definitely go down.

They didn't so I went back onto the unmetered rate. The meter is still in place though.

[Rude-boy]

TooMany2cvs said:

don4l said:

However, I like the fact that I can water the garden without thinking about the cost.

How much water are you using on your garden, ffs?

Our water supplier charges £1.35 per cubic metre - one m3 is, of course, 1000 litres. So that's 1.35p for a ten litre watering can full. Or, should I choose to fill all three 200 litre water butts from the tap instead of the shed roof, it'd cost me 81p...

We have a 1,000l hot tub that i refill every couple of months and do a fair old bit of watering and the Mrs gets hives if she hasn't washed one of her cars for more than a week and we both have at least one shower a day. Add to that she cooks from scratch most of the time so plenty of washing up in the sink and dishwasher twice a week.

About 6 loads of washing every week, More if we have the guest bedding to change because my snoring has driven her out of our bedroom and it needs to be ready for the next visitors.

All for less than £10 per month, on a water meter.

[motco]

Make sure you aren't being charged for surface water disposal if your house has soakaways. They charge by default and you have to show that you are not discharging rainwater off your roof into the sewer.

[trickywoo]

I'm not on a meter but the neighbours asked for one. The have two sons one of which comes round regularly to wash his car the other to wash his kids. They also have a pond and two dogs. Strange if they still aren't saving money - I may have to look into one.