Water Meter Installation - soonish

[Greenmantle]

My water company has written to me inviting me to book an appointment for a new water meter.
I'm not resisting getting a water meter but I would like to know what happens to the monies already paid for this financial year?
I have already paid up front till 31st March 2026.
Has anyone experienced this issue?

[Sheepshanks]

What do you expect will happen?

[GasEngineer]

I don't know of anybody who has paid more after having a water meter fitted.

When you get to year end you should get a refund.

[Sheepshanks]

GasEngineer said:

I don't know of anybody who has paid more after having a water meter fitted.

I think it's guaranteed you won't pay more.

[Philvrs]

Greenmantle said:

My water company has written to me inviting me to book an appointment for a new water meter.
I'm not resisting getting a water meter but I would like to know what happens to the monies already paid for this financial year?
I have already paid up front till 31st March 2026.
Has anyone experienced this issue?

I think you will get a bill soon after the installation showing x days at the rates you currently pay. This should be deducted from your credit, leaving you with some to carry forward, you will then be billed at an interval depending on meter reads.

[Actual]

I have set our water billing cycle to "When you get your bill - Yes" and then I submit a meter reading on the 1st of each month. This is what I do with Thames Water and they then issue monthly bills based on exact usage. This avoids the occurrence of "My water bill has doubled/tripled etc". I hate budget accounts which build up a credit or deficit. As stated this works with Thames Water.

Another advantage of monthly water meter readings is that you are more likely to notice a potentially costly water leak that you would be responsible for the cost of the water.

Water companies are supposed to upgrading to smart water meters so are you being installed with a smart water meter and if not presumably it will be years before you get one. A smart water meter would be able to detect leaks as they happen.

[Simpo Two]

Actual said:

Water companies are supposed to upgrading to smart water meters...

As if smart electricity meters haven't given enough problems! Will a smart water meter limit your water supply in times of drought I wonder?

[Mad Maximus]

Simpo Two said:

Actual said:

Water companies are supposed to upgrading to smart water meters...

As if smart electricity meters haven't given enough problems! Will a smart water meter limit your water supply in times of drought I wonder?

How do these work? Underground in the street or in the house at the tap?

I wasn’t aware smart meters could throttle gas and elec?!

[Alex Z]

Mad Maximus said:

Simpo Two said:

Actual said:

Water companies are supposed to upgrading to smart water meters...

As if smart electricity meters haven't given enough problems! Will a smart water meter limit your water supply in times of drought I wonder?

How do these work? Underground in the street or in the house at the tap?

I wasn t aware smart meters could throttle gas and elec?!

They can’t, though SMETS2 metres can be swapped into prepayment mode remotely if you are significantly in arrears.

[Terminator X]

Sheepshanks said:

GasEngineer said:

I don't know of anybody who has paid more after having a water meter fitted.

I think it's guaranteed you won't pay more.

Guaranteed you say? Citation?

TX.

[aproctor1]

I pay £960 a year for water and waste.

Shocking.

It's telling that you can't have a meter removed, once installed, after the 3 year grace period.

[Sheepshanks]

Terminator X said:

Sheepshanks said:

GasEngineer said:

I don't know of anybody who has paid more after having a water meter fitted.

I think it's guaranteed you won't pay more.

Guaranteed you say? Citation?

TX.

I *think* it's an OFWAT thing, but the details may be different for each water company. Ours, United Utilities, is here: https://www.unitedutilities.com/my-account/all-abo...

[InitialDave]

I had a meter fitted, my bills are well below half what they were.

If you've pre-paid, my understanding is your account will be in credit until the balance is exhausted?

But maybe be easiest to just phone your provider.

[Terminator X]

Sheepshanks said:

I *think* it's an OFWAT thing, but the details may be different for each water company. Ours, United Utilities, is here: https://www.unitedutilities.com/my-account/all-abo...

I tried the estimate thing and it came in at £830. Our annual bill is £350.

TX.

[Sheepshanks]

Terminator X said:

I tried the estimate thing and it came in at £830. Our annual bill is £350.

Good for you.

[philv]

Has anyone declined a water meter?

Where do they put it?
Outside the house?
We have bugger all room in the kitchen where the off tap is.

[xx99xx]

philv said:

Has anyone declined a water meter?

Where do they put it?
Outside the house?
We have bugger all room in the kitchen where the off tap is.

Can go inside or out. Ours is outside under the pavement.

[Sheepshanks]

philv said:

Has anyone declined a water meter?

Where do they put it?
Outside the house?
We have bugger all room in the kitchen where the off tap is.

Who is your water supplier? Ours, UU, puts them inside if possible now. They used to put them outside but now if reckon they can fit it internally but you want it outside then you have to pay.

[Terminator X]

Sheepshanks said:

Terminator X said:

I tried the estimate thing and it came in at £830. Our annual bill is £350.

Good for you.

Lol it's clearly not the greatest thing since sliced bread then + also not "guaranteed" like you said.

TX.

[Sheepshanks]

Terminator X said:

Sheepshanks said:

Terminator X said:

I tried the estimate thing and it came in at £830. Our annual bill is £350.

Good for you.

Lol it's clearly not the greatest thing since sliced bread then + also not "guaranteed" like you said.

It is guaranteed. The guarantee is that your bill won t increase, so you d stay at £350.

Bearing in mind people typically see their bill halved on a meter (our’s went down more than that) there’s clearly something unusual about your situation, but you’ ll know what that is, so not sure what you re trying to prove?