Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Water bills?

94 replies

TheOpalFox · 03/06/2025 16:30

Severn Trent said my water bills are going uoto £51.
am I better off going on a meter? Or will that work out more expensive please?
thank you
2 bed house £51!!!

OP posts:
PinkPinkPinkBlue · 03/06/2025 16:32

Severn Trent, 4 bed house with 5 occupants. All bath or shower daily, dishwasher twice daily and at least a load of washing each day metered £42

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 03/06/2025 16:32

I got an unmetered quote of £60 per month for a 2 bed flat in London- just me and dd

Unsure whether to go for a meter myself, or just take lots and lots of showers

Anon1231990 · 03/06/2025 16:35

I have actually been a chat with United utilities today re my charges. It has just increased from £66 to £83!! in NW, Small 3 bed semi. I't's crazy.

I am not able to get a meter due to a shared supply, apparently it is going to take approx 8 weeks for an assessment to be made (confirming I can't have a meter) before they switch me to an assesed rate which will be £33 per month

Depending on your water usage I would definitely consider a meter. I believe you have 2 years to revert back to the rateable charge if the meter actually ends up more expensive, but that might be supplier dependant

Happyspendingthedayinthegarden · 03/06/2025 16:37

2 people, 2 showers a day (me less than 4 minutes - DH always comments on how quick I am) DH takes a bit longer, dishwasher going everyday, washing machine probably 3 times a week, large garden with lots of pots that need to be watered. In SW of UK we pay about £20 a month.

GasPanic · 03/06/2025 16:40

About £15 quid a month.

Find someone else on your street that has got a meter and ask them.

charliehungerford · 03/06/2025 16:54

In my last property (Thames water) four adults, no meter - cost was less than what I pay now in Wiltshire (Wessex water) with just two adults and a meter. Currently £50 a month and we are careful with our usage. Couple of loads of washing a week, dishwasher five days out of seven and a couple of quick showers a day. I don’t think meters are necessarily cheaper.

notreallyme2023 · 03/06/2025 16:56

Wow, I was forced on a meter and 94 a month. 3 bed terrace, SE. 4 people

StMarie4me · 03/06/2025 16:59

3 bed house, terraced, 1 bathroom, 2 of us, £70!

xXxSideshowAuntSallyXx · 03/06/2025 17:07

1 person. No dishwasher and wash up by hand 3 times a day after every meal (apparently that makes a difference), 2 showers most days, 1 load of washing every day (can't leave my sweaty gym kit festering in the basket), 2 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday (sheets and towels). Don't use it for gardening as we have water butt's and a tap in the bin store.

I use £43 a month, they suggested I put it up to £83 I said no I'll stick with £48. I'm on a meter so there should be no guessing.

I'm with South East water.

lovemycbf · 03/06/2025 19:19

notreallyme2023 · 03/06/2025 16:56

Wow, I was forced on a meter and 94 a month. 3 bed terrace, SE. 4 people

We pay a hundred pounds a month on a meter. Water company wanted £130 but I’m not happy to be paying in advance towards my next bill which is what they want me to do

ArcticBells · 03/06/2025 19:24

Mine’s gone up to £72 for me alone in a tiny house. I’m out working all week . I’m applying for a meter.

ShanghaiDiva · 03/06/2025 19:33

South west water have increased their charges by 30% and removed the government contribution where every household revived a £50 credit on their bill. Apparently the increase in charges is to provide affordable water for all and to improve their customer service. It’s an absolute farce!

MyUmberSeal · 03/06/2025 19:36

South East Water, £56 a month. Gone up quite a bit. Three bedroom house, no meter.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 03/06/2025 19:37

Every time one of these posts crop up I start to wonder if the water companies just pluck a figure out of the air! When ExDH moved out I called them up to have the bills changed to my name and they wanted to raise my monthly bill by 40%.

3 bed in the SW here. 2 adults showering every day, one load of washing and dishwasher once every 2 days and I pay £80

grimgrinningghost · 03/06/2025 19:37

West Mids 3 bed semi 2 adults on a water meter, Severn Trent has just increased my bill from £36 to £42 per month.

Caerulea · 03/06/2025 19:40

ShanghaiDiva · 03/06/2025 19:33

South west water have increased their charges by 30% and removed the government contribution where every household revived a £50 credit on their bill. Apparently the increase in charges is to provide affordable water for all and to improve their customer service. It’s an absolute farce!

I'm reading some of these monthly DDs & quietly sobbing thinking about my Cornish water bill.

Fwiw - OP - you need to say how much you're using in cubic meters, that will give a better comparison.

Snowwhitespinny · 03/06/2025 19:55

United Utilities - NW.
2 bed semi bungalow
2 adult occupants have a shower each a day ( we don't have a bath)
Half-size DW every other day
Washing machine twice a week.
(Duvets go to the bagwash twice a year when we change them over from winter to summer and back.)

We have 4 water butts to water the (small) garden

£38 - meter

RH1234 · 03/06/2025 19:58

Not paid water in ten years! Haha

The water company are aware from ten years ago, with multiple attempts to start a bill, but no one wanting ownership.

Finally due our first bill imminently, starting from 0 usage, due to their error. Excited to find out how much our water will be haha

Toastandbutterand · 03/06/2025 20:01

How are they so cheap?! £150 a month on a social tariff, 2 bed terrace!

I have a meter and I think they're diddling me. I didn't have a washing machine and used a launderette at the start of the year!

My gas and electric are £40 each a month.

Tryingtotaketheleap · 03/06/2025 20:07

£52pm, 2 bed house with metre.
We’re never in just me & adult child in yr13.
I’m with Anglian water though.
I was only paying approx £30 a couple of years ago!

Kidswillbethedeathofme · 04/06/2025 18:46

3 bed mid terrace… 3 kids who are allergic to the shower(???) one adult. Dishwasher on every day, one load of washing a day.
Thanes water. Originally £53 a month- they put my bill up to £93 a month.
rang and spoke to them and they have changed my bill to £20 a month

scritter · 04/06/2025 18:54

I've just been whining about this. Our monthly payment has just leapt from £80 to £139. 5 people, tons of washing, tons of dishwasher, bath every night/teenagers constantly in the shower. I thought there's been some mistake, but maybe not Grin

beesandstrawberries · 04/06/2025 18:56

I’m having issues with Thames water. I’m a single parent to one 5 year old in a two bedroom flat. I’m quite frugal, don’t fill bath to the top or leave tap running when brushing teeth etc. But my bill has gone from £22 a month to £114.

For context, my mum is a four bedroom house, she constantly uses the hose in her garden, she has 6 people have at least one bath daily in the house, she has a dishwasher (that I don’t have) and has her washing machine on at least 3 times a day - she pays £50 a month. So the fact that I’m being charged £114 is barbaric and I’m pretty stressed as they’re telling me it’s ‘accurate’ for my usage and no one is helping me.

i think this is the worst year I have seen with water companies charging people insane prices and scamming their customers

TickleMyPickle · 04/06/2025 19:03

Southern water, 4 of us all showering daily ( teenagers in there for far too long) washing machine and dishwasher on daily…it’s just gone up from £77 to £118 a month 🥴

Ireallycantthinkofagoodone · 04/06/2025 19:05

I’m a bit puzzled why posters are giving the size of their property, if they have a water meter. What difference would that possibly make? Just state how many people in your household, washing machine and dishwasher use, and if you have a garden to water.

Swipe left for the next trending thread