To water meter or to not water meter?

[MyPurpleHeart]

My water bill has come through, for 2 adults who both work full time its £71.88 per month. Is it just me or is that very high?

DH works and stays away 3 nights a week so we are talking only 3-5 showers a week between us, two loads of washing and maybe 2 rounds of the dishwasher.

I'm tempted to change to a water meter but will that be more? Am I safer on a fixed rate?

Actually that's over 10 months so £380 a year

I found out that without a meter the water companies base your charge on the value of your house as a rental.

I lived in a road, so did my friend. Neither of us on a meter. She paid £27 a month, we paid £58. She has young children (2) and was using far far more water than us.

I couldn’t fathom it and rang the water company (Thames) who basically explained it to me. We were in a larger 4 bedroom detached and she was in a smaller 3 bedroom semi.

I immediately asked them to fit a meter and my bills went down to about £21 per month.

Shocking really..

The only downside to having a meter is that ours say that we will be billed every 6 months from a remote meter reading. I will see whether this can be changed to monthly as this is how we currently pay. They are coming to assess and fit if possible in a few weeks. If not possible I will ask to be assessed as they told me that I should be paying around £49 rather than £91(which it is going to be from May, currently £86).

Thames water. 2 adults. Was £96 a month before meter, £40 after.

Just had my new Thames Water rates bill for 2025. Small 3 bed mid terrace in Newbury. 2 over 70's. Gone up 31 percent now 842 pa . I have applied for a meter. End terrace next door pays 410 pa.

Just had my 2025 Thames Water bill and it has gone up 31 percent to 846 pa. Small mid terrace 3 bedroom house in Newbury. 2 over 70's. Next door metered 410 pa, I've requested a meter.

I know this is an old thread but my goodness the bill for this coming year is shocking. Mine is up nearly 50%

Southern Water here. Average bills going up 47%.

Currently pay £55 a month so not had the letter yet but expecting it to jump to about £80. Family of 4 with a meter

Mine is £36 a month and me and teen shower every day and youngest has bath around 5 days a week.

My DD phoned the water company (Thames Water) because her household had 3 less adults (Uni) but her bill had gone up by £21 per month, unmetered.

Thry told her that non-metered charges were based on bedrooms per house and it didn’t matter who was actually living there.🤷‍♀️