Why Do I Have To Pay A 'standing Charge' For My Water And My Waste Water?

[Boitoske]

My water supplier says the standing charge is for maintaining and reading the water meter.
The waste water company does not maintain the meter nor do they read it. So why should I pay them a Standing charge?

[Samjenko]

Water used= £6.50
Total Bill= £120.37

They should wear a mask.

[bhg481]

The standing charge also covers all the pipework outside your property boundary, as does the standing charge for waste water.
The cost of supplying services to your house falls into two categories, the cost of the water/gas/electricy itself and the cost of making it available to you. Clearly the more of something you use the more you should pay but the company has to maintain the supply lines even if you only use a small amount, hence the standing charge.

[JJ109]

For anything tht is fixed, irrespective of the usage
eg the costs of billing you.
it costs the same whether your bill is 7 pounds 70 pounds or 700 pounds.

[Samjenko]

My gas bill's the same.
Gas used= £4.00
Total Bill= £30.00

I know from reading other posts on here that people would 'kill' for my bills. But it's the principle.

[fiction-factory]

If a supplier knew you were only going to pay £6.50 in what looks like a quarter, samjenko, they would probably have decided it wasn't worth connecting you to the water mains and sewerage system. The setting up and maintenance pipes and sewers have to be paid for by someone. A water meter is still far cheaper than a non-metered supply

[hc4361]

I water meter is far cheaper in some circumstances, not all

[Peter Pedant]

why do I pay a standing charge when I sit when I wee ?

very very good question - why dont you ask them ?

[Samjenko]

My rates paid for the connection and infrastructure, ff.
Of course they need updating etc. I've had several well paid jobs with Water Authorities.
Ps. That was an approximation of my yearly bill.
Lighten up a bit. Don't you like to have a moan?

[bhg481]

So that's where all the standing charge goes - overpaying the likes of Sam.

[fiction-factory]

lol 'Samjenko' - I like the newish user name but recognise the style of posting. Are you not confusing rates and water rates. Did your rates pay for your gas pipes too?

[Samjenko]

Ta. ;-)

[Samjenko]

That's another 'dodgy' area, ff. They charge you for having a meter.
Yet I don't need one, they do.

[Samjenko]

And bear in mind, that until the spoon-faced fraud (Cameron) poked his big hooter in, many energy suppliers had Standing Charge free tariffs.