Has anyone else had a shock at how much their water bills are going up on 1 April?
| Related: | Personal Finance•Utilities•Water |
I've just looked at the regional table by Ofwat for water price rises for 2011/12, and in my area sewerage is going up 4.6%, and the water is going up a whopping 8.2%! Time for that water meter, I think!
You can check out your area here...
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/cut-water-bills#price
Note this only affects England & Wales, Scotland's prices are frozen for 2011/2012
Answers (6)
Thanks for the link fruity, according to that ours is going up 4.1%.
Yes we're on a water meter and our consupmtion is or has been fairly consistent over the years with only an increase during high days and holidays or when we've had visitors.
The temptation to ask them to only take short showers and half fill the bath is always there but sometimes good manners has to overcome frugality.
I think many people are now opting for the meter as at least you pay for the water you use and I also think it makes folk more aware of the cost therefore ultimately teaching them to conserve and not waste it.
No I'm alright Jack.
As I'm in Scotland our water isn't metered thank goodness.
If it was I would be seriously rooked!
I feel sorry for the Engleesh and their metered water - having to watch what you use must be a real strain - Its the same in Eastern Europe strangely - Scotland must be the only place where we can be free with our water...
"You can take our lives but you can never take our Free-water.....!!!!!"
We're not obliged to have water meters yet in England and Wales, but judging by these rises I think more and more of us will be getting them.
Scottish water is far superior quality to England's water as well!
Yes I must agree English water is very coarse.
Its one of the things I look forward to when i come home from a holiday is the sparkling Scottish water.
Aha I always though everyone in England had water meters - interesting.
I think a water meter would be more expensive - what is the actual rate? then i presume its like a leccie meter but does it do economy 7?
Cheaper to use at night?
England's water is hard and 'lime-y', Omen, not soft, sparkly and crystal clear like it is in Scotland.
On a water meter you simply pay for what you use, rather than paying the same as everyone else in your area, so I guess there must be a rate of some kind, but I don't know what it is. Maybe someone on here who's already on a meter can tell us?!
My understanding is that all of England and Wales will be on metered water in the not too distant future, I think these rises may be designed to get more and more of us on one now!
The quick calculation, Omen, is if you have more bedrooms than people in your house you would probably be better off with a meter.
But I agree with Lillie, I wouldn't want to have to be the 'water police' when we have visitors.
Last year my bill was £146, this year it's £154. My brain is not functioning today (well, it is actually working overtime on other calamities, so there's no 'maths' space left) so I don't know what percentage increase that is - but overall an increase of £8 for the year didn't rile me enough to start researching water meters........ mind you, once I've dealt with the other calamities perhaps it might start to niggle. Ah, just looked at your link and it says 2.7% for me, if I could think straight I'd work out whether that's what my new bill works out at!
Wendiew, I think the percentage rise is worked out on the average bill, so yours may not be exactly the same percentage. The closer your annual bill to the average in the table, the closer the percentage rise figure will be. Hope that makes sense! Hope your 'calamities' aren't too awful, and hope you get them sorted out!
Thanks fruitcake. Calamities were fortunately of the temporary nature, sorted now - amazing how an entire day can pass by dealing with 'stuff'.
That's good news, wendiew, and I know exactly what you mean about the day and 'stuff'! :-)
3.9% for me, in Northern England, we have nice soft water, and am not metered at present! Shame our wages don't go up at the same rate as all the increases.
Well I come up as a 6.4 percenter here ... strike me down with a dowsing rod! We have had meters for several years down here in the south and I guess I have control to some extent. I do try and economise now ... have a 'quickie' in the shower .... flush the loo one a day ( twice if effluented up ) put more things in per washing load.
Am I right in thinking that no one has jumped on the bandwagon to resell water supply and sewerage services like the phone, gas and electric? Can anyone explain that?
Good question, Snoops...I'd like to know the answer to that one!
Crikey I thought the Slovaks were bad when I visited but its seems the one flush per day is even here now!
Crikey must be a bit whiffy in your hoose snoops?
I keep a lid on it, OD .....
I checked mine and it is 4.1%. I had my bill a couple of months ago and our usgae has actually gone down! We pay about £8 a month less than we were. Not a huge saving but every saving helps.
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