Water Meters

[Groupie]

My daughter has recently moved houses and the house has a water meter fitted,can they have it changed back to d/d billing if they tell the water company?

[redcrx]

with a water meter the bills are still sent out and you can pay by DD

[cathfromsaron]

no never! they can still be paying their metered bill by d/d though! xx

[MrIncredible]

Not sure if she will be allowed to switch it back, but why would she want to?
Every person I know who has gone from paying a monthly water rate to having a metre has been better off, and saved money.
Even my parents who had a hair salon, and had water running most of the day was better of on a metre.

[redman41]

Water Meters can save a lot of money and if I was your daughter I would keep the Meter for a while to see how her Bills work out.
I have had a Meter for almost 9 Years and it has saved me hundreds of pounds

[redcrx]

"can they have it changed back to d/d billing " oh are you actually asking if they can change back to water rates? if so the answer is no

[Old_Geezer]

I believe the companies have wrangled a deal to get them into all homes by allowing one to request a meter but refusing to turn the house back to normal rates. Lord only knows how they got that through. I consider it disgusting. More than most things water should be supplied as required to all in society by the society (commercial concerns excepted). I don't want any neighbour near me skimping on hygiene to save money.

[craft1948]

No you can't change from metered to rated...............

[craft1948]

I live on my own OG so why should I pay the same for my water as the family of four across the road..............

[Old_Geezer]

Water meters save the users money whilst the change occurs because the 'moral' lot is subsidising the 'don't care' lot. It's the same tactic hypermarkets used to get rid of corner shops, and soon the independent fuel stations. Just wait until the critical mass is achieved and watch the price rise with no option.

[Old_Geezer]

"I live on my own OG so why should I pay the same for my water as the family of four across the road"
So do I and i do it because it is right to pay for water supply via public kitty. If you object to paying more than those across the road that would be because the local taxation is a poor system, as it takes no account of individual ability to contribute to the kitty.

[ethandron]

we had a meter fitted two years or so ago and i use the water exactly the same as i did before we had it fitted, no skimping at all, it was one of the conditions i had to change to a meter (i didn't want one, my husband did) and we still save over £400 a year.
in this area, if a meter is fitted to a property and the property is subsequently sold, the new owners are automatically metered for their water consumption, no choice.

[hc4361]

In this area water meters are fitted to every new build and every property that is sold.
I thought that was nationwide.

[craft1948]

They are in new-builds but you don't have to have one fitted just 'cos you're selling your house.

[hc4361]

Craft, the buyers have to have them, not the sellers.

[craft1948]

Sorry hc I meant that when you buy a (not new) house you don't have to have a meter fitted, but if there is one fitted you have to keep it.

[gingejbee]

I expect OG would like unlimited amounts of gas and/or electricity for a fixed amount, too.

[ladybirder]

You pay for what you use, the same as with gas and electricity. I can't see what's wrong with that.

[buildersmate]

There are many that would say that it isn't the same as gas and electricity, and OG is absolutely right.
The reason is this - gas and electricity has to be generated and there is a cost to that proportional on the amount used. Water just drops from the sky and the water utilities have no 'generation' costs whatsoever. The only costs they have are in maintaining their system (and renewing it from time to time). That being so, the amount one individual household uses doesn't really matter - it is the capacity of the total system that counts.
What those of you smart alecs who advise changing to water meters seem to fail to realise is that if EVERYONE converts to a water meter to save money, the utilities will have less income coming from from the billpayers. since their costs are fixed, they will have no choice but to increase bills for everyone - by increasing the price per cubic metre for water provided.
So better keep quiet about the benefit of being on metered water - the 'cheaper' argument ain't going to last for ever.

[boxtops]

OK bm, but I'll enjoy it while it lasts - my water bills have shrunk incredibly since we went on a meter, my direct debit was in fact reduced again after the last reading.

[ladybirder]

It makes you watch your usage very carefully and that has to be a good thing. People are so wasteful with water.