Wales Water Consumer's Bills Doubled
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Social
In England's Drought Prone Areas, Customers are Forced to AcceptWater Meter Installation, Which Is Resulting More Water Bills
Many families find they are paying less, but more than a third are seeing significant increases and some people's bills are doubling.
Major companies, including Southern Water, Thames Water and South East water, are starting compulsory water metering.
The water industry expects that 50% of homes will have meters by spring next year.
Mark Phippen, from Hedge End near Southampton, told BBC News he had been warned his family's bill would nearly double, from £387 to £763 a year, after a meter was put in early in the year.
Save water, save money
The Phippens have four children so they are bound to use more water. Some of their neighbours, with fewer in the home, are celebrating because their bills are going down.
The local supplier, Southern Water, has calculated that 62% of households are better off with meters, saving £159 a year on average.
Currently, 38% are losing out, ending up £175 worse off on average. Because they can phase in the metered charge, they are likely to lose even more in the long run, unless they can cut down their use of water.
Southern Water is in the middle of a drive to install half a million compulsory meters. South East Water, Affinity and the biggest supplier, Thames Water, are just embarking on similar programmes.
Southern's director of communications, Geoff Loader, hopes the meters will encourage people to save water.
Mr Loader says if suppliers in water-stressed areas were not able to force customers to have meters, they would have to build more reservoirs and desalination plants, and pass those costs on to the public.
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