Water meter? DON'T

DrWatson

Our bills dropped by about 50% when we installed a meter, for 2 of us. I thought you could swap supplier, just like gas/electric, even though the product is the same?

No, you can’t swap suppliers for water.

You are with whoever supplies your area.

After my husband died 3 years ago, I was advised to have a water meter installed.
I looked into it and decided to go for it.
We had been paying around £95 a month as a couple.
The meter was installed on the outside stop tap as my indoor stop tap was in an awkward spot.
For the first few months I paid £4 a month, this then rose to £12 a month and when my daughter and family moved in with me temporarily last year, it rose to £44 a month.
I had a letter last week telling me that my payment has now gone down to £26 a month.
I've not sat down and calculated how much I've saved, but my rough estimate is around £1000 over the past 30 months.

A water meter has proved to be the best move I ever made - I've saved a fair amount since it was installed.

It sounds as if you may have a leak somewhere.

Our bills dropped by about 50% when we installed a meter, for 2 of us. I thought you could swap supplier, just like gas/electric, even though the product is the same?

South West Water offers a discount to those on a low or fixed income. However, they require a 3-month bank statement before agreeing.

lovingit

thanks for all the replies.my next step is to get a plumber to see if there is a leak.There is no other way to explain my usage trebling.It was particularly high from february to May...amazing as I was in Vietnam for all of february!
My meter cost £26 a month up to February then £47 then the latest to £55.

You did not make that clear in your opening post. That reads as if you had just had a meter installed and your bill had risen from £26 to £47.

What do the daily readings on the water company's app show?

If it's any help, I'm a single occupant and careful user. I shower at home. I use around 150 - 200 litres a day depending on whether I do a laundry machine wash.

A longish power shower would take something between 15 and 20 litres, a bath takes 80 litres, toilets flushes up to 10 litres each, a washing machine cycle 50 litres, dishwater cycle 15 litres, a bucket of water to mop the floor about 10 litres. Say around 50 litres for drinking water, tea making, cooking, handwashing, watering indoor plants etc. It all adds up. One of the mot extravagant activities is washing the car with a hose - which you don't do but for those who do, that can take 250 litres whereas a couple of builders buckets of water would be around 30 litres.

I’m with Yorkshire Water. Live alone. Was paying £48 month, had meter installed and it has halved, by direct debit. So glad I went for it.
Usage alone affects single occupancy; showers, dishwasher, loos, washing machine all obviously less.
You will have to fight your unreal charge. Good luck.

Yes, NannyC1 - saw your post on a previous page. KittyL, growstuff and I have since commented and asked if you are on a meter snd where you are?

thanks for all the replies.my next step is to get a plumber to see if there is a leak.There is no other way to explain my usage trebling.It was particularly high from february to May...amazing as I was in Vietnam for all of february!
My meter cost £26 a month up to February then £47 then the latest to £55.

Georgesgran There is because I am on it.

Apologies as according to Siri there is one:-

A single occupancy water rate is a discounted rate for individuals living alone. To qualify, you must have requested a water meter and the water company was unable to install one. If a water meter is installed, you'll be charged based on your actual water consumption, not a flat rate.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
How to get a single occupancy rate:
If you live alone and have requested a water meter, but the water company couldn't install one (e.g., due to complicated plumbing in a flat), you can be switched to a single occupier tariff.
Why a single occupancy rate?
The rate is designed to be more affordable for individuals living alone, as they typically use less water than a household with multiple residents.
How the rate is calculated:
The single occupancy rate is based on the average water consumption of a single-person household.
Availability:
Not all water companies offer this rate, and it may be available on a case-by-case basis.
How to check for eligibility:
Contact your water company to inquire about the single occupier tariff and if you are eligible.

growstuff

Allira

and I cant get rid of the meter

Why? I'd be on to them again!
You should be on a special rate for a single-person household.

I didn't know about special water rates for single person households.

There is not one

RillaofIngleside

I don't understand why our bill is £90 a month with a meter. There are only 2 of us, although 3 of us until last July. It seems really high, although reading some of these posts maybe not? I'm waiting to see what happens next year now there are only 2 of us alone all year.

It does seem high, almost 3x ours, (2adults) though it might be less now there’s only two of you.
I hope so for your sake. Might be worthwhile asking for a check in case of leaks.

Astitchintime

dayvidg

Could possibly be an underground leak

I agree……this requires further investigation by the water company OP

I went through this with an elderly neighbour who was in the early stages of dementia.
It took 2 years to find and repair the leak. The road, her drive ( twice) her hall, her bedroom were all dug up before they found it.

I don't understand why our bill is £90 a month with a meter. There are only 2 of us, although 3 of us until last July. It seems really high, although reading some of these posts maybe not? I'm waiting to see what happens next year now there are only 2 of us alone all year.

NannyC1

Georgesgran There is a single occupancy water rate because I m on it.

Are you also on a meter? Xx

I wish! For just the 2 of us, I pay £86 pcm std rate and a family of 7 nearby pay less on a meter

Do not confuse council tax where there is a single occupant discount, with water where you just pay for what you’ve used. The size of your house has no bearing on how much water you use!
If your bill is higher than you think it should be and you suspect a leak, you can claim on your buildings insurance. Be careful to only instruct a plumber approved by the insurance company you are claiming against and check the small print.

I can't help my self but am driven to point out that Meanwhile in Scotland - There is only one "Water Company" i.e. Scottish Water, which is not privatised, but as their advert boasts "owned by us all". We pay for water along with our Council Tax, which is calculated according to the size/value of the house. I have never heard any complaint from anyone.about the cost or of water or the prompt service provided if there is a problem.

@lovingit
You might have a leak I would get a plumber out to check it. It happened to me my bills when I first got the water meter were around £48 per month and went up to £105 because of a dripping tap in bathroom and a dripping tap in garden and I mean dripping not running. I have gone back into normal bills and it’s now £80 per month but I’d rather have that and know how much it’s going to be each month. My plumber said he knew of someone who went on holiday and came back to a bill of nearly £2k because they had a leak while they were away !!

I pay every 6 months when I get a bill so no monthly DD. I have a meter and my usage is fairly consistant and low - I'm very stingy with my water and only flush the loo when really necessary except if I have guests. When we moved here as a family of four we still saved with a meter. Now I'm on my own I save loads. When my daughter moved back in for 18 months the bill approximately doubled which is what I expected, but then when she moved out I got estimates which were much too high. I read the meter and told them what it was and they re-billed me. If the bill is higher than expected I always check now as they sometimes estimate even though I have a meter! I'm with Thames water so I'll find out how much more it costs when the next bill comes! Hopefully not too much more!
The tip about photographing the meter reading on your phone and enlarging is useful. A passerby told me to do that when I was on my knees and struggling to read it and asked if he could help!

We had a water meter fitted some years ago and the bill went down. I'm on my own now. Last year I paid £19 a month, was in credit at year end and will be paying, I think, £28 this year. Yorkshire Water. I understood that after a year the meter could be removed if it was more expensive than a non-meter. I'm stingy with water, sometimes wash up only once a day, don't always flush the loo, have a good wash every day in the wash basin and have a bath only once a week (like in the old days!). I have a diverter tank that takes water from the bathroom that I use that for the garden and a large water butt behind the house that takes rainwater from a short length of guttering at the end of the kitchen.

Had a meter fitted just last week.
My previous bills for Sewage went up to £98 per month, not far short of £1000, per year but Water coming in only £200 per year.
See how it goes now?

dayvidg

Could possibly be an underground leak

I agree……this requires further investigation by the water company OP

From reading this thread, the norm seems to be about £20-£30pcm for a single person (more for a couple/family). TBH I don't think that's too bad considering what it should provide - safe drinking water and disposal of liquid household waste. My gripe is when water companies don't always provide safe/palatable drinking water and dispose of waste water irresponsibly. My own tap water is horrible. We get water from underground chalk aquifers. The water is excessively hard, tastes horrible and deposits limescale on everything it comes into contact with. I've just had a water softener installed and I've already noticed the difference.

If people are paying a lot more, maybe they should check for leaks.