Water. Does a watermeter save you money?

[Alan Medic]

I never considered this before but seeing an increase in our bill I just wondered am I paying over the odds by not having a meter. I'm not into measuring drops but I'm curious if anyone found that they paid a lot less using this method?

[ratty]

Depends on how big your family and hose is. When I moved I suggested getting a water meter and the chap from Thames Water laughed at me. In a 4 bed house with 2 kids he said no way would I save!

[DulwichFox]

I live alone.. 20+ years a go 1990 at a time I was also living alone, They wanted ?2,000 to instal a water meter..

I suspect if you are married with 3 kids, Thames Water will fit one for FREE..

DulwichFox

[dbboy]

It is not the increase in the cost of the water that is worrying but rather the substantial service charge and form memory I think it was about 33% increase (but I nay be wriong on teh figure) in disposal of used water (sewage)

[Sue]

I'm going for it.

It is free to fit for anyone I think, certainly in London. Look on Thames Water website. They have a useful comprehensive list of FAQs.

There are places online you can do a calculation to work out roughly if it would be worth your while.

I reckon I can halve my annual bill with a meter, but then I mostly live by myself.

If you change your mind within the first twelve months, you can change back.

I've got Thames Water coming to do the survey to make sure I can have a meter in a few weeks' time. I think it depends on various things go do with plumbing.

Only applied online yesterday, and they phoned this morning to arrange the survey - I was impressed!

[Loz]

I think the general rule is, if you have more or the same number of bedrooms than people, get a meter. Less bedrooms than people, stick with the rates system.

Getting a water meter is free, and they have to fit one if you ask. Thames did ours about two weeks after being asked. Did a rather nice job of it, considering they had to get up some paving bricks to do it.

[Sue]

I think they are pretty busy at the moment.

I know some other people who are also considering a meter having just got their annual statement, or whatever it's called.

[KidKruger]

In my view water meters are a con, especially when enforced on an entire area.

[Loz]

Not sure how metering your usage could be a con. Can you image if they were trying to impose it the other way around? "Yeah, we've got this great new idea - we'll send you a bill for electricity and gas based on how much your home is worth".

[goosey-goosey]

We have just applied for a meter, and had the initial survey. It's all been a doddle, the website and Thames Water will advise on whether it's likely to save you money, and I think you can revert to rates-determined bills up to a year after having a meter fitted. The only risk I can see is if there's a leak between the meter (they're normally installed under the pavement) and your taps. But in that case, your bills are likely to rocket very quickly so you'd be sure to notice and be able to do something about it, like revert to non-metered payments.

[KidKruger]

It sounds such a great deal getting a water meter - you save money, right ?

On the IOW a few years ago, water meters were installed wholesale for everyone - a kind of trial before rolling-out nationally. I think at the same time the similar occurred in (parts of ?) Scotland.

People used less water, so they could realise their savings, and after a year the average saving was like 15% overall.

How cool. You pay less for your water.

The following year, the water company increased the cost of water.

By 15%.

People curse the water meters now, when previously they were such an assured prospect for saving money.

Good luck with your water meter.

[KidKruger]

Who's ever successfully had their water meter REMOVED after having it fitted ?

One-way street I think ?

[ed_pete]

It would be much fairer if we all had water meters. Why should the person who lives alone subsidise large families ?

[KidKruger]

Let's make everyone have water meters and see them consequently use less water - and watch the water companies' contentment in selling less water with lower profits.

Sounds like a win-win all round.

It's reassuring that water companies have our interests at heart by suggesting water meters will be saving us money, just when we thought those big corporations were money-grabbing monotliths.

Good on those companies for their benevolence, how lucky are we ?!

[Sue]

Kid Kruger, Thames Water are not forcing anybody to have a meter.

They aren't even particularly encouraging it. They suggest you look to see if your bill may be cheaper if you have one.

For some people, like me, it probably will be. If it isn't, I can go back to the old system.

The meter is free to fit.

Yes they may put prices up but I can't see what that has to do with having a meter?

[Sue]

KidKruger Wrote:

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> Who's ever successfully had their water meter

> REMOVED after having it fitted ?

> One-way street I think ?

No. Thames Water are quite clear that you can stop being billed via meter readings if you request it within twelve months of having the meter fitted or after the second reading. Whichever is later.

I think that's fair.

[KidKruger]

Do they say the meter can be removed ?

Or do they say you can revert to a flat rate - meter in situ still ?

[Sue]

Does it matter?

If I revert to the old billing system it doesn't matter to me whether the meter is still there or not.

If I sell the house the new owners may want to use it.

It would be ridiculous for Thames Water to remove the meter and then put it back again, surely?

That waste of money really would make the cost of water go up!!!

[KidKruger]

Anyone who's had a meter several years and can confirm their savings consistently over that period ?

[*Bob*]

Sue's right though - there's no pushy campaign by Thames to foist a water meter on anyone (quite the opposite, I'd say) - which would be unusual for any company sitting on a sure-thing potential moneyspinner.

That said, a bill for approaching ?500 is quite an incentive it itself.

[solar]

If you have a water meter installed and then decide to go back to a flat rate system the meter stays in place, but the next occupants of the property don't have a choice they have to use the meter. This might not be attractive to someone considering buying the property.

[KidKruger]

There's also the consideration of what they put in our water. They put stuff in our water to make us think the way they want us to think, so they can control us and take over. Though this is not specific to water meters, admittedly.

[Alan Medic]

WATER METER GOOD. WATER METER GOOD...........

[Sue]

KidKruger Wrote:

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> Anyone who's had a meter several years and can

> confirm their savings consistently over that

> period ?

Yes I know someone who's had one over ten years and reckons he saved every year.

[Sue]

solar Wrote:

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> If you have a water meter installed and then

> decide to go back to a flat rate system the meter

> stays in place, but the next occupants of the

> property don't have a choice they have to use the

> meter. This might not be attractive to someone

> considering buying the property.

Yes that's true, I had forgotten that, however I doubt it would be a deal breaker.