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Housekeeping

does anyone have a water meter? is it cheaper?

36 replies

paddingtonbear1 · 23/08/2007 14:26

We currently pay £56 a month water rates. My friend has a water meter (installed before she moved into her house), and pays £25 a month! So a water meter can be cheaper? Do you have to pay to have one? We don't have many baths - generally use shower - but we do have a dishwasher. Only 3 of us live in the house, dh, dd and I. We don't use a hose much or have a sprinkler. Has anyone changed to a water meter, was it better?

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cece · 23/08/2007 14:28

wE PAY £23 PWE MONTH

Remember though that water rates are paid for 10 months per year aren't they and water meter is 12 months per year.

FWIW though I think ours is cheaper than it was in our old house. They installed ours for free - had to have it as all sold prperties have themm installed in this area.

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MascaraOHara · 23/08/2007 14:31

I have a water meter, there's just me and dd and I pay ~£35ish per month

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SlightlyMadStar · 23/08/2007 14:31

Havn't changed - but the impression I get is that it is generally cheaper - particularly for smaller families. How many children do you have?

BTW you sound negative about having a dishwasher, but I thought they used less water than hand washing.

BTW if you have 3 or more children and get tax credits you can get your water bills capped. Check you water boards website for vulnerable housholds scheme.

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SlightlyMadStar · 23/08/2007 14:33

BTW I pay £24 per month on a water meter and appear to pay 10m of hte year.

£24 is hte capped rate - so is considered to be the average household bill in my water board area.

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devonsmummy · 23/08/2007 14:35

I don't have a meter but heard from the money saving bloke on GMTV that if you have less people in your house than the number of bedrooms you have it could be cheaper to go on a meter. He said the water rates are worked out by how many rooms in the house.

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OhNo40 · 23/08/2007 14:38

Our current house has a meter, the old one didn't. We moved from a 3 bed to a 4 bed (but still only 3 of us) and we seem to be paying slightly less. If we'd stayed with rates, we'd be paying more as rates go on no of bedrooms.

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LIZS · 23/08/2007 14:39

We're currently paying £18 pm on a water meter which seems to be covering the cost so far (only been here 6 months so far). Previously our water rates were about £350 pa in a slightly smaller house but probably consumption would be similar.

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Charlie999 · 23/08/2007 14:39

It is cheaper - and allows you to use a sprinkler.

I have always had meters fitted wherever I lived.

I've just had my direct debits revised to £8 and £10 per month down from £10 and £14 per month (for supply and waste - we have 2 companies here!) - so £18 per month for both!

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Charlie999 · 23/08/2007 14:40

Doesn't cost to have a meter fitted either...

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MascaraOHara · 23/08/2007 14:41

shit Charlie £18 a month?!?!? what region is that?

I am sure I'm getting conned

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FioFio · 23/08/2007 14:42

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FioFio · 23/08/2007 14:42

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Charlie999 · 23/08/2007 14:43

Kent - have to pay mid-kent water for supply and Southern water for waste - god knows why

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paddingtonbear1 · 23/08/2007 14:43

We live in a 3 bedroom house. We only have 1 child. I just assumed dishwashers must use a fair bit of water, but I am probably wrong! It is a fairly new one, and not a full size - don't know if that makes any difference!
My dad lives in a 4 bed house on his own and he finds a water meter cheaper.

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FioFio · 23/08/2007 14:44

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Charlie999 · 23/08/2007 14:44

perhaps you should ask water company to check your meter and no leaks MOH? Does sound a lot...

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MascaraOHara · 23/08/2007 14:44

I'm with Anglia water and it seems to cost me a fortune.. can you shop round for water supplier nowadays?

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Charlie999 · 23/08/2007 14:45

I have 3 beds, washing machine on every day, dishwasher on every night, showers, hose etc etc and still only pay £18 per month

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TheQueenOfQuotes · 23/08/2007 14:45

Mascara - I'm with Anglia too - we pay £38 a month (or somewhere round there)

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paddingtonbear1 · 23/08/2007 14:46

we pay £560 a year atm. wow!

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SlightlyMadStar · 23/08/2007 14:46

£35 per month does sound expensive, for 1 adult and 1 child.

For 2 adults and 2 children who like to leave the tap running we were only paying £24 a month before we were capped.

What area are you in?

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TheQueenOfQuotes · 23/08/2007 14:46

oh - and we're not on a Meter.

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Charlie999 · 23/08/2007 14:46

I don't think you can shop around - This 2 company situation is non-negoitable (?sp) - odd isn't it?

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SlightlyMadStar · 23/08/2007 14:46

YOu can't change water supplier

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crokky · 23/08/2007 14:47

£56 a month for water sounds a lot to me. Water meter could be cheaper.

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