For example, you could have a small number of people in the home but a large garden that needs watering and you take daily baths. There is a useful tool that you can use to calculate your usage here which takes into account all of these kinds of factors. Better for the environment? This means making more effort not to waste water and that is much better for the environment. You can see some tips for saving water here. Higher property bands could pay more. This varies from provider to provider but some base their non-metered charges on your property banding.
Therefore if you live alone but in a large property, or in an expensive area which attracts a higher band, you could be paying more than you need to for water. Early leak detection. If you were unlucky enough to get a leak on your property, your water meter could give you an early warning before too much damage has been inflicted.
This is because a water meter would show excessive water usage in your bills and alert you to the problem. You can change your mind in the short term. Reasons not to switch to a water meter The following are reasons you may be better sticking with a non-metered supply: High volume water usage. Obviously if you do use a lot of water then it makes no sense to switch.
While having a meter can be useful for detecting leaks see reasons to switch , you would of course be paying for all that water that is lost.
Fixed fees mean no surprises. You have also said that you offered to buy and install an analogue meter and provide Thames Water with readings but they refused this. According to Thames Water, analogue meters, which are often outside people's homes or underground, don't provide the same level of information as smart water meters so it's harder for people to see if they have a leak on their pipes or how to reduce day-to-day usage.
The company has committed to installing around , smart water meters within its business plan so it is no surprise it is encouraging you to have one installed. It claims it will try and fit meters to the outside of properties as often as it can but sometimes, they will need to be fitted inside the home. With regards to how water bills are calculated, Ofwat, the water regulator, said charging for water is based on one of three things: rateable value, water meter or assessed charge.
Water companies can insist on fitting a meter if the house is in a serious water stressed area. Typically, customers who do not have a water meter installed are charged based on the rateable value of their home.
Rateable values were an assessment of the annual rental value of a property and were used by local authorities for the General Rates system of local tax between and Assessments were made by the Inland Revenue and, at the time, households were able to appeal the Rateable Value of their property. This method is still used despite the ratings taking place 29 years ago. There are no specific details about how properties were assessed and it is not immediately obvious why similar properties have a different rateable value.
However, sometimes, if water companies cannot fit a meter to a customer's home after a meter has been requested - perhaps because it is not practical or it is too expensive - they will offer an assessed charge, which is an alternative to rateable value.
This charge will be based on a number of factors, including how many bedrooms a property has and whether it is a single occupancy household, and is detailed in each water company's charging scheme. Customers could also be offered an assessed charge if their property has been altered substantially.
Whilst not all water companies have meters as compulsory, some have said they are essential. However, many people opt for a water meter as it accurately calculates how much water a household is actually using.
According to research from Thames Water, those with a meter use typically use 12 per cent less water. Another benefit is that meters also allow water firms to spot where there is a leak so they can fix it as quickly as possible. Ofwat and other water companies strongly advise customers to get a meter fitted to save money on their water bills - but unless your water firm informs you it is compulsory, it is optional.
The Government can insist on a meter being installed if the customer uses an automatic watering device such as a garden sprinkler, automatically fills a swimming pool or pond, has a large bath, has a power shower or is the new occupier of a property - provided an unmetered bill has not already been sent to that occupier. An Ofwat spokeperson replies: Generally, customers who do not have a water meter installed are charged based on the rateable value of their home.
Rateable value is essentially an historic measure of the annual rental value of a property. If a customer has any questions or concerns about how they're charged, they're always best off talking to their water company. A spokesperson for Thames Water replies: The South East is classed by the Government as water-stressed meaning all available water sources are currently in use, a problem which is set to worsen with a growing population and climate change.
To help us reduce demand and to make sure there is enough to go around we're installing meters to help customers manage their water usage, as well as save money and energy. Grace Gausden, This is Money, adds: Although you have said you don't want to have a meter fitted, the Consumer Council for Water has a calculator on its website that will calculate if you could save money by having one installed or not.
Anyone looking to found out if having a water meter is compulsory in your area, should contact their water provider to find out more information. While, currently, not all water companies are enforcing their customers to have a meter installed, this could soon change as the National Infrastructure Commission, which advises the government on major projects, has said that water meters should be compulsory from the s.
Guy Anker from Moneysavingexpert. Alternatively, use the water meter calculator on the website of the independent Consumer Council for Water CCWater , to see how much water you are consuming and get an estimate of a metered bill for your home.
You can also use the water energy calculator on the Energy Saving Trust website to check how reducing your water usage will lower your heating bills. Unfortunately, the cost of switching varies around the UK. If you live in England and Wales, your water company will provide and install a meter completely free of charge.
His first bill was a complete shock, he says. My wife and I live in a one-bed flat with no garden and a new bathroom, with all the latest water saving devices - I honestly believed we would save money. Families with lots of young children and those with medical conditions such as incontinence, weeping skin problems and renal failure which necessitate high water usage are also likely to receive higher bills with a meter.
If that means you, and you are in receipt of certain benefits , you can apply for a special WaterSure tariff from your water company. This will cap your charges at the average household bill for the area. During this time, you should expect to receive at least two bills which you can use to compare charges before and after the meter was installed. One of the key reasons that water companies and environmental campaigners are in favour of water meters is because they can help to identify leaks.
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