Water Meters

[BillyPilgrim]

Originally Posted by colincurry

When we lived in Swansea, our water bill was assessed on the rateable value of the house. Latterly, there were just two of us. We were paying considerably more than very large families who lived in houses with smaller rateable values. Not really very democratic.

We have moved twice since then and into new houses where meters were compulsory. We now pay less than 50% of our previous bills.

Unless this would cause provable considerable hardship, why should not everyone pay for what they use?

I daren't mention poll tax

Colin

I suppose its an age old question re. rateable value. Its not perfect but nobody seems to be able to find a better alternative. As was demonstrated by the dreaded poll tax.

There's only 2 of us at home now but I'll have to stick with my principles and fork out the extra dosh for the time being. I say for the time being because as soon as the balance between metered/non-metered homes swings towards the former then I'm sure the water companies will hike up the price for the metered homes.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Daisychain

We had a water meter fitted & it didn't cost anything. Well worth doing, saves us £'s.

How many are in your house Daisy.....
We are not on a meter but my son has a shower everyday and I have a bath..
We also have an irrigation system to the greenhouse.

I don't think a water meter would benefit us.

[smartie]

It's difficult to know who will benefit. We are two in the house, have showers every day, irrigate quite a large garden with a dripper system and use a dishwasher and a washing machine - goodness, I'm making myself feel guilty here! - and we still save money with a meter.

[BillyPilgrim]

Originally Posted by smartie

It's difficult to know who will benefit. We are two in the house, have showers every day, irrigate quite a large garden with a dripper system and use a dishwasher and a washing machine - goodness, I'm making myself feel guilty here! - and we still save money with a meter.

It seems that everyone who has a meter installed saves money?

Pardon my cynicism but it just deepens my distrust of the water companies. I suspect they are doing a kind of 'loss-leader' exercise. When they have enough people in their grasp, ie. on meters then the price increases will start.

Is is possible to have the meter removed and go back to the old way of paying if you choose to?

[muddyfeet]

Apparently if you do have a meter installed, you cannot go back to an unmetered supply.

Here on the Isle of Wight, all properties are metered (apart from a very small few), so we have no choice in the matter.

Agree with what BillyPilgrim says though - it is probably a loss-leader, once the whole country is metered, the water companies will probably up the price!