Water
There are 24 water companies in England and Wales who are regulated by
Ofwat. Ten of these companies provide sewerage services.
Depending on where you live, one company will usually supply both your
water and sewerage services and you will only receive one bill.
However, in some parts of the country, your water may be supplied by one
company and your sewerage services provided by another. In cases like
these, you will normally receive a bill from both companies.
Can I change my water company?
Unlike other utility bills such as gas and electric, you cannot change
your water bill to another supplier. If you are looking to save money on
your water bill, the only option you have is to consider installing a water
meter.
What is a water meter?
A water meter is a device that you will usually have fitted at the front
of your house. It works in the same way that a gas or electricity meter
does in that it measures the amount of water that you use, rather than you
paying a fixed amount each year based on the rateable value of your property.
Is a water meter right for me?
A water meter may not be the best option for you and you would need to
consider how much water you use in your household throughout the year to see if
it is worth changing.
We have given two case studies below which may help you in your decision
making:
Case Study 1:
- Two adults and one child live in a three bedroom terraced house. The
family always has showers rather than baths. The garden is fairly small with
only a few pots and shrubs. The annual water bill was £460 based on the
rateable value of the property, so the family decided to have a water meter
fitted. Fitting a water meter has reduced the bill by almost half to £240
– a massive saving of £220 per year. Fitting a water meter in this
instance has been a good move.
Case Study 2:
- Two adults and two children live in a three bedroom detached house.
The family has baths rather than showers. There is also a big 120ft garden
which contains a lot of plants and is cared for by the owners. During the
summer months, a lot of watering is done from the tap once the water butts have
run dry. The annual water bill of £520 per year is considered cheap due to
the amount of water that is being used by the family. Fitting a water
meter in this case would not be beneficial to bill payer as they would probably
end up paying more for their higher water usage.
If you think fitting a water meter would benefit you, your water company
may fit a water meter for free. You will have the right to change your
mind about the water meter for up to 364 days after it has been installed.
After this time, it would be considered acceptable by you.
Some water companies have online calculators on their websites that will
help you to decide if a water meter is right for you. Please contact your water
company for further information.
