Water Meter

[hc4361]

Would it worthwhile to switch to a water meter? I have just received my annual invoice for £386.49 comprising:

Total water charge: £176.37
Total used water charge: £210.12

If I did have a water meter I'd still have to pay the fixed used water charge, I think.

[Jomlett]

MoneySavingExpert says...It's important to work out if a meter is financially worthwhile. As a rough rule of thumb, if there are more or the same number of bedrooms in your house than people, check out getting a meter. Sadly in Scotland it's not free to have a water meter installed (it's actually quite pricey) so, unless you live alone in a manor-type-property, you should stick to estimated payments.

[hc4361]

Thanks for that, Jomlett. I'm thinking my actual water bill is quite low and would like to know what other people are paying.
It is nice to be able to water the garden and wash the car without thinking about the cost of water but I do like saving money.

[Buenchico]

>>>If I did have a water meter I'd still have to pay the fixed used water charge, I think

I very much doubt it. As far as I'm aware, all metered water supplies charge for sewerage as a fixed standing charge plus an amount per cubic metre of foul water leaving your house (which is assessed as being 90% of the amount of clean water that went into it). So reducing the amount of clean water going into your house also results in a lower charge for the foul water leaving it. e.g:
http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/household/your-account/tariffs/standard-rates/

Unless you've got a very big family living at home (or other reasons for high water usage, such as a massive garden) it's likely that switching to a water meter will save you money. Use this calculator to check:
http://www.ccwater.org.uk/watermetercalculator/

[hc4361]

Thanks, BC, that's where my thinking was way off kilter. It seems I could save around £100 pa by using a meter. Not too shabby a saving :)

[woofgang]

I have halved my bill.

[EDDIE51]

I changed to a water meter 2 years ago, so I know about charges.
You are charged per cubic meter (1,000 litres) for the water you use and the water used minus 10% for waste water /sewage.
we are charged £2 a C/M for water and £4 a C/M for waste water / sewage.
So if I use 100C/M the charge is 100 x £2 plus 100 x 0.9 x £4 which equals £560 .
Our waste/ sewage is handled by a different company from the supply
If you are not on mains sewage you do not pay the waste part of the bill but you will have to pay the charge for a septic tank.

[hc4361]

Eddie, my sewerage is handled by a different company, too. South Staffs for water, Severn Trent for sewerage.

woofgang, how much was your bill before you changed to meter?

[hc4361]

Good point, divebuddy

[EDDIE51]

you would have paid £362 for used water if you lived here hc4361

[hc4361]

Eddie, I believe my water bill is cheap compared to many others.

[woofgang]

hc I was paying nearly 800 quid a year. Highish rateable value house in an expensive area.

[bhg481]

As divebuddy said, most companies will install a meter and, if you don't like it, allow to to revert to standard charges after a year. We took Thames Water up on the offer many years ago (2 of us in a 3-bedroomed house) and roughly halved our bill. It's a no-brainer to try it.

[woofgang]

Round here its compulsory although I had mine before that. I think companies can make it compulsory in areas at high risk of water shortage.

[hc4361]

So you've halved your bill to be about the same as I pay unmetered, Woofgang

[woofgang]

yup, but that still means nothing as the charge per cu m for water in my area is probably higher than where you are.

[EDDIE51]

Water meter cost calculator here, just put in your water company and details
http://www.ccwater.org.uk/watermetercalculator/

[Old_Geezer]

It would probably work out cheaper. It is, after all, a bribe to get you to change; which is what they want. Which ultimately is control.

You get into a position where you feel you should avoid using water, even if hygiene suggests you ought. So the companies can eventually supply less, yet raise the charge to ensure they get the same (or as much as they want) profit.

In the meanwhile the morally superior method of a community covering the cost of water that everyone in the community needs, both for their and for their neighbours' sake, is charged at a higher rate than metered, to achieve this manipulation.

Short term benefit for you, in exchange for a longer term less beneficial position for both you and your progeny. Trouble is even if you make a stand the rest will grab the cakes and circuses and you'll be left in the same boat anyway.

[woofgang]

well except OG that every week my neighbour washes his car AND his wife's car AND his daughter's car AND his son's car. I for one am happy not to be paying for that!