switching to water meter

A question about : switching to water meter

At the moment, there are two of us in four-bed house and buy.co.uk tells me we could save Ј90 a year by switching to a water meter. I read in Martin's book you could switch back within a year so can you not switch back after a year ever?

Once we have a couple of kids, it might be cheaper not to have a meter but that won't be for at least two years so could we swicth to a meter in the short-term and then switch back when the kids come and I have to do a load of washing every day?

Best answers:

• I swapped to a water meter several years ago, there are four of us and it is still loads cheaper than water rates. Did you know you can claim a Ј30 discount every year if none of your waste water from the roof goes into the drains? If one does go into the drain stick a water butt there. You get in touch with your water company and ask for a form, going on the assumption thats its not just anglian water that does this. You can also get a free water saver that goes in the tanky bit of your loo so it uses a litre less water, or just get a litre pop bottle and fill and stick that in there, thats for the older loo, the newer ones are more water saving.
  We use water exactly as we did before and still save money.
• I paid Ј382 based on rateable value in 2002. I then switched to metered and paid Ј288 in 2003. Usage is similar and I have had 2 children all the time (and still do the last time I looked!).
  Obviously it depends on the rateable value of your home being relatively high - I have no idea how you determine this!
  When I switched I was told I could switch back within 1 year (or longer if I only received estimated bills). After the year is up I don't think you're allowed to switch back. My supplier (Three Valleys Water) provided a checker to persuade me to change and it has proven remarkably accurate.
  I suggest you contact your current supplier and ask for any information they have on switching to metered.
  Good luck, whatever you decide.
• You have got 1 year to decide to switch which is plenty long enough, you cant swap back and forth when it suits you or else people will be doing it all the time which is not fair on the water companys as alot of money is involved installing and then reading a meter.
• Thanks for all you replies! I am sure a meter will save us a lot of money at first, it is just that I plan on a having a few kids in the future! On buy.co.uk it says we could save Ј100 a year based on the fact we use our washing machine and dishwasher twice a week. Once that goes up to four a week the predicted savings are wiped out, tho it doesn't say it will be more expensive, just as expensive.
• Hi ,
  changed from rates (costing Ј50/mth) to a meter. We are a family of 3, always having the washing machine/dishwasher on, run baths, but use a water butt for the garden - our bill is now Ј15/mth - I consider it the best money saving decision I've ever done !!!!
• How many kids do you hope to have? The laundry/baths/etc really piles up when you have more than 2.5.
  A family of 3-4 is no comparison to a family of 6 for water usage. Dish washing, laundry, bath/shower, all are much, much more.
• jg,
  I was thinking of having one kid and seeing how I liked it! I have three sisters so I think I want a big family too. Tho I realise when they come along, I may not feel quite the same way.
  We could save maybe Ј100 a year for two years (we pay Ј300 a year at the moment) but we will live there for maybe 50 years so will it save me money in the long-term?
  Possibly not. One way to get the best of both worlds would be to switch now and then switch back at the last opportunity, saving Ј100 at least.
• We are a family of 5 in South West Water's supply area. Rateable value puts our "unmetered" monthly bill at Ј67/mth.
  Last year we averaged about Ј75/quarter on a meter, we don't particularly watch our water use - even to the point of using a sprinker on the lawn last summer, so it is definitely cheaper for us.
  HTH
  SteveB
• Thank you for that sj, I am definitely switching now!
• Put everything you save on this into an ISA, and it will give you a nice cushion in case, in 10 years time, it starts to cost you more.
• I have already maxed out our ISAs with money from interest-free credit cards (obviously!)
  That is a good idea, though, but with saving up for so many other things at the moment (wedding mostly!) any savings will go to that and doing up our house. I will just be as careful with water as I am with money!
• Changed to a meter last summer with SWW. I was paying about Ј60.00 a month, when the guy came to fit the meter he said I should half my bill, so changed the direct debit to Ј30.00. By christmas I was over Ј100 in credit, so now I only pay Ј10 a month. I live in a 3 bed semi with a wife and child. Our last quaterly bill came to the staggering total of Ј9.00. Is the meter wrong or is the a fantastic saving.
  Have looked into having the meter checked but SWW state that if they check and find it is correct I will have to pay Ј75.00 for wasting their time!
  Think I'll stick where I am.
• I'm looking to switch to a water merer - Reckon I can save about Ј100 per year.
  Problem is that I'm a council tenant and need their approval to install the meter.
  Has anybody got experience (success or rejection) of an application?
• If you're in the Anglian water region, a switch to a meter is for good, you can't go back.
• I went to buy.co.uk, if we have a meter it will be Ј120 more per year.
• Help! I have happily told my friend with 4 kids, a lodger with a kid and a cat and dog that she can change her unwanted water meterback to bills after reading this in Martin's book - she's tried to tell her water board but they are saying it's not possible. She didn't ask for the meter and they did fit it after she moved in. Their argument is that you can only switch back if you asked for it and change your mind but not if you didn't ask for it - surely that's worse!!!!! Does she have any recourse at all with this? It's crippling her and her kids are boys so I don't want them too smelly ha ha! Thanks for any advice guys.
• Unfortunately if you move into a house with a meter, you can't change back. I think this is unfair too, but that's the way it is for some reason. Maybe the water companies want everyone on meters eventually.
• пm currently paying Ј14.70 un-metered to Yorkshire water. Of course im always looking to save some cash, so am also wondering about getting a meter fitted.
  However, i see a lot of people have huge water rates (MUCH more than 14.70 a month). theres only 2 of us in here, small ish terrace, no dishwasher, id say we were low users.
  Its hard to judge, so does anyone have any experience with Yorkshire Water and are 2 people??
  Im almost sure ill end up doing it out of curiosity, but would be a little dissapointed if it ended up more than un-metered!
  thanks,
  john.