Attention: Please take a moment to consider our terms and conditions before posting.

Thames Water Meter

124»

Comments

  • PrincessFiona
    PrincessFiona Posts: 5,455
    addix said:
    Arsenetatters said:
    Rob7Lee said:
    Arsenetatters said:
    Just had a message left from Thames Water saying they want to make an appointment to fit our water meter. We don’t want a water meter. I’m not phoning them back. I guess it’s going to be like the smart meters - we held out as long as we could….
    It partly depends on where you live, if in an area of deemed extreme water stress they can just fit one, they don’t need your permission. As Thames water I believe that covers their entire region.

    unless you are running 20 baths a day for your chickens I suspect you’ll find you’ll save money compared to standard charge.

    i live in a large house with four adults. That means probably 4 showers a day and two baths. My wife seems to love seeing the washing machine on at least 15 times a week, dishwasher at least once a day and as for the toilets and the amount of toilet paper we get through I reckon at least 20 flushes a day! Everyone bar me seems to like to see water pouring down the drain when they brush their teeth, for my sins I do like to keep my grass green and jet wash the family fleet each weekend.

    all metered at about £90 a month.

    what are you paying a month unmetered?


    £64 per month. 
    Will probably build a compost loo if we have to go down the meter route but we won’t unless we have to. 
    If you're not on a meter and paying £64/m I'd assume you're on Rateable Value which is based on the number of bedrooms in your property.  Might be worth checking TW have your details correct and aren't already overcharging you.

    This link can help work out if a meter is a benefit for you 
    https://www.ccw.org.uk/save-money-and-water/water-meter-calculator/
    We only pay about £41 a month on a meter and are in a 4 bed with large garden. That is evened out over the year, with more watering of the garden in the summer and more soaks in the bath in the winter. 
  • Chizz
    Chizz Posts: 28,339
    Most customers, especially small households, save 10–30% or more with a meter.

    Utilities research confirms approx. 5–15% reductions, with ~12% typical for Thames Water customers. 

    @Arsenetatters it's likely you'll save money if you have a water meter installed. But it would be worth checking the calculator on the Thames Water site to get an idea. https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/water-saving/water-saving-calculator
  • addix
    addix Posts: 1,185
    PrincessFiona said:
    We only pay about £41 a month on a meter and are in a 4 bed with large garden. That is evened out over the year, with more watering of the garden in the summer and more soaks in the bath in the winter. 
    I've posted before about our eventual savings when we started to be charged the meter rate (that had been fitted years earlier).  We've got a garden with a large pond, plus chickens on our allotment.  With 7 water butts we can save some tap water, but it's all-or-nothing with them, and this summer so far, they are very much at the nothing end of the scale.


    It's understandable to worry about water usage (from a financial POV) when switching to a meter, but it's only £2.47 per m3 (1000 litres).  As with energy, the water company sticks a big chunk of the charge on the fixed cost, so you're screwed before you even turn a tap on.
  • PrincessFiona
    PrincessFiona Posts: 5,455
    addix said:
    PrincessFiona said:
    We only pay about £41 a month on a meter and are in a 4 bed with large garden. That is evened out over the year, with more watering of the garden in the summer and more soaks in the bath in the winter. 
    I've posted before about our eventual savings when we started to be charged the meter rate (that had been fitted years earlier).  We've got a garden with a large pond, plus chickens on our allotment.  With 7 water butts we can save some tap water, but it's all-or-nothing with them, and this summer so far, they are very much at the nothing end of the scale.


    It's understandable to worry about water usage (from a financial POV) when switching to a meter, but it's only £2.47 per m3 (1000 litres).  As with energy, the water company sticks a big chunk of the charge on the fixed cost, so you're screwed before you even turn a tap on.
    Screwed if you have a meter or no meter? Or both?! We don't feel £41 a month is too bad with the amount of garden water and baths
  • addix
    addix Posts: 1,185
    PrincessFiona said:
    Screwed if you have a meter or no meter? Or both?! We don't feel £41 a month is too bad with the amount of garden water and baths
    It's hard to be certain from the TW site for unmetered customers as their bill has no relation to the volume of water used and is more of a postcode lottery from values set 35 years ago https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/account-and-billing/understand-your-bill/rateable-value with rates in some regions double that of others.

    For metered customers, if you're a  low usage household particularly, there is less of an incentive (financially) to reduce your usage if your bill is starting at nearly £200 a year 'just for the connection' (about 40% of your £41 is fixed) 

    Energy companies/Ofgem are particularly guilty of moving more of the cost to the fixed element of the bill because of the price cap.

    So I'm really saying you're screwed because you have no control over an increasing % of your bill if metered, or move to Kensington if you're unmetered!


    I've even changed my car insurance to a pay-per-mile one as I don't drive much.  The fixed part of that bill is £93/year and then something like 15-20p/mile. Quotes from traditional annual insurance companies started at £400, so my annual cost should be a good £100 lower than that.


  • JohnBoyUK
    JohnBoyUK Posts: 9,021
    Chizz said:
    Most customers, especially small households, save 10–30% or more with a meter.

    Utilities research confirms approx. 5–15% reductions, with ~12% typical for Thames Water customers. 

    @Arsenetatters it's likely you'll save money if you have a water meter installed. But it would be worth checking the calculator on the Thames Water site to get an idea. https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/water-saving/water-saving-calculator
    I've just done the water saving calculator.  It reckons I'll save £5 a year!
  • Arsenetatters
    Arsenetatters Posts: 5,976
    edited July 4
    Rob7Lee said:
    Arsenetatters said:
    Rob7Lee said:
    Arsenetatters said:
    Just had a message left from Thames Water saying they want to make an appointment to fit our water meter. We don’t want a water meter. I’m not phoning them back. I guess it’s going to be like the smart meters - we held out as long as we could….
    It partly depends on where you live, if in an area of deemed extreme water stress they can just fit one, they don’t need your permission. As Thames water I believe that covers their entire region.

    unless you are running 20 baths a day for your chickens I suspect you’ll find you’ll save money compared to standard charge.

    i live in a large house with four adults. That means probably 4 showers a day and two baths. My wife seems to love seeing the washing machine on at least 15 times a week, dishwasher at least once a day and as for the toilets and the amount of toilet paper we get through I reckon at least 20 flushes a day! Everyone bar me seems to like to see water pouring down the drain when they brush their teeth, for my sins I do like to keep my grass green and jet wash the family fleet each weekend.

    all metered at about £90 a month.

    what are you paying a month unmetered?


    £64 per month. 
    Will probably build a compost loo if we have to go down the meter route but we won’t unless we have to. 
    You will almost certainly save money on a meter with just two of you (I’m sure even 90 chickens don’t use the same as an extra adult).

    lad I work with lives in a 2 bed flat alone, his metered bill is around £15 a month.
    You’d be surprised. We have a large number of plastic coops that have to been cleaned. I don’t jet wash but it takes a lot of water. Also areas of each enclosure that have non slip rubber matting have to be hosed down. That’s before washing and filling all the water containers. We get through a large number of towels in the hen hospital so the washing machine is often in use. Plus it’s an acre of garden with plenty of areas needing to be watered. 
  • Chizz
    Chizz Posts: 28,339
    JohnBoyUK said:
    Chizz said:
    Most customers, especially small households, save 10–30% or more with a meter.

    Utilities research confirms approx. 5–15% reductions, with ~12% typical for Thames Water customers. 

    @Arsenetatters it's likely you'll save money if you have a water meter installed. But it would be worth checking the calculator on the Thames Water site to get an idea. https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/water-saving/water-saving-calculator
    I've just done the water saving calculator.  It reckons I'll save £5 a year!
    Winner!
  • fenlandaddick
    fenlandaddick Posts: 1,770

    Chizz said:
    JohnBoyUK said:
    Chizz said:
    Most customers, especially small households, save 10–30% or more with a meter.

    Utilities research confirms approx. 5–15% reductions, with ~12% typical for Thames Water customers. 

    @Arsenetatters it's likely you'll save money if you have a water meter installed. But it would be worth checking the calculator on the Thames Water site to get an idea. https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/water-saving/water-saving-calculator
    I've just done the water saving calculator.  It reckons I'll save £5 a year!
    Winner!
    Bet you've spent the whole day thinking what you could spend that windfall on.

  • IdleHans
    IdleHans Posts: 10,971
    Two euromillions tickets, obvs - you're on a roll!
  • Sponsored links:



  • KingKinsella
    KingKinsella Posts: 1,312
    KingKinsella said:
    I know Thames Water its a failing company.

    They installed a meter

    I was on a fixed fee- they contacted me and said my metered usage was low and I was overpaying, so I went over to metered use.  Can' t remember exact amount about £30/month.
    Readings were taken and appeared on my bill.
    Then there was  a gap of 30 months (from early 2022) without readings ( I did ring up but got left hanging on the phone) and now the cost is £96/month last year,  increased to £98/month this year. Based on the one and  only reading this year our  usage is 150/litres /person/day when national average 140 litres/person/day.
    Neighbour has told me he pays half what I do (same size family-2 adults 2 students, we are 4 adults). I've got water butts etc for garden use , so little used other than in the house.
    Today by chance my wife turned up with the Thames Water letter that was a 6 month comparison of water usage  vs average with price comparison of fixed rate vs metered usage. Dated 25th January 22.

    Can't remember how many of my sons and partners were living with us then, we possibly were more than the 4 currently living here.
    repeat this is Jan 2022
    Current unmetered usage- £707.10.........
    Predicted metered usage-£520.12- thats what persuaded me to change over.

    Average daily water usage 499 litres for our household (2022)
     Their  diagram indicates typical 4 person usage as 480 litres (current internet AI search search suggests 140 litres/person)

    Now (2025) paying £98 /month=£1176 pa currently 4 of us living here.
  • Off_it
    Off_it Posts: 28,853
    KingKinsella said:
    KingKinsella said:
    I know Thames Water its a failing company.

    They installed a meter

    I was on a fixed fee- they contacted me and said my metered usage was low and I was overpaying, so I went over to metered use.  Can' t remember exact amount about £30/month.
    Readings were taken and appeared on my bill.
    Then there was  a gap of 30 months (from early 2022) without readings ( I did ring up but got left hanging on the phone) and now the cost is £96/month last year,  increased to £98/month this year. Based on the one and  only reading this year our  usage is 150/litres /person/day when national average 140 litres/person/day.
    Neighbour has told me he pays half what I do (same size family-2 adults 2 students, we are 4 adults). I've got water butts etc for garden use , so little used other than in the house.
    Today by chance my wife turned up with the Thames Water letter that was a 6 month comparison of water usage  vs average with price comparison of fixed rate vs metered usage. Dated 25th January 22.

    Can't remember how many of my sons and partners were living with us then, we possibly were more than the 4 currently living here.
    repeat this is Jan 2022
    Current unmetered usage- £707.10.........
    Predicted metered usage-£520.12- thats what persuaded me to change over.

    Average daily water usage 499 litres for our household (2022)
     Their  diagram indicates typical 4 person usage as 480 litres (current internet AI search search suggests 140 litres/person)

    Now (2025) paying £98 /month=£1176 pa currently 4 of us living here.
    That can't be right. Water meters (and smart meters) only save people money. I read it on here.
  • valleynick66
    valleynick66 Posts: 4,891
    Off_it said:
    KingKinsella said:
    KingKinsella said:
    I know Thames Water its a failing company.

    They installed a meter

    I was on a fixed fee- they contacted me and said my metered usage was low and I was overpaying, so I went over to metered use.  Can' t remember exact amount about £30/month.
    Readings were taken and appeared on my bill.
    Then there was  a gap of 30 months (from early 2022) without readings ( I did ring up but got left hanging on the phone) and now the cost is £96/month last year,  increased to £98/month this year. Based on the one and  only reading this year our  usage is 150/litres /person/day when national average 140 litres/person/day.
    Neighbour has told me he pays half what I do (same size family-2 adults 2 students, we are 4 adults). I've got water butts etc for garden use , so little used other than in the house.
    Today by chance my wife turned up with the Thames Water letter that was a 6 month comparison of water usage  vs average with price comparison of fixed rate vs metered usage. Dated 25th January 22.

    Can't remember how many of my sons and partners were living with us then, we possibly were more than the 4 currently living here.
    repeat this is Jan 2022
    Current unmetered usage- £707.10.........
    Predicted metered usage-£520.12- thats what persuaded me to change over.

    Average daily water usage 499 litres for our household (2022)
     Their  diagram indicates typical 4 person usage as 480 litres (current internet AI search search suggests 140 litres/person)

    Now (2025) paying £98 /month=£1176 pa currently 4 of us living here.
    That can't be right. Water meters (and smart meters) only save people money. I read it on here.
    Thames water and I think all water companies were  allowed to massively inflate all bills this year regardless of usage v rateable value merits. 
  • PrincessFiona
    PrincessFiona Posts: 5,455
    edited July 9
    Off_it said:
    KingKinsella said:
    KingKinsella said:
    I know Thames Water its a failing company.

    They installed a meter

    I was on a fixed fee- they contacted me and said my metered usage was low and I was overpaying, so I went over to metered use.  Can' t remember exact amount about £30/month.
    Readings were taken and appeared on my bill.
    Then there was  a gap of 30 months (from early 2022) without readings ( I did ring up but got left hanging on the phone) and now the cost is £96/month last year,  increased to £98/month this year. Based on the one and  only reading this year our  usage is 150/litres /person/day when national average 140 litres/person/day.
    Neighbour has told me he pays half what I do (same size family-2 adults 2 students, we are 4 adults). I've got water butts etc for garden use , so little used other than in the house.
    Today by chance my wife turned up with the Thames Water letter that was a 6 month comparison of water usage  vs average with price comparison of fixed rate vs metered usage. Dated 25th January 22.

    Can't remember how many of my sons and partners were living with us then, we possibly were more than the 4 currently living here.
    repeat this is Jan 2022
    Current unmetered usage- £707.10.........
    Predicted metered usage-£520.12- thats what persuaded me to change over.

    Average daily water usage 499 litres for our household (2022)
     Their  diagram indicates typical 4 person usage as 480 litres (current internet AI search search suggests 140 litres/person)

    Now (2025) paying £98 /month=£1176 pa currently 4 of us living here.
    That can't be right. Water meters (and smart meters) only save people money. I read it on here.
    I don't recall anyone said they did, only that they were highly likely to for most people

    I think the majority on here have said they have saved but of course it is only a very small sample size, similar to both your and mine - with me saying in my experience everyone saved and your experience the opposite - funny that
  • PrincessFiona
    PrincessFiona Posts: 5,455
    edited July 9
    KingKinsella said:
    KingKinsella said:
    I know Thames Water its a failing company.

    They installed a meter

    I was on a fixed fee- they contacted me and said my metered usage was low and I was overpaying, so I went over to metered use.  Can' t remember exact amount about £30/month.
    Readings were taken and appeared on my bill.
    Then there was  a gap of 30 months (from early 2022) without readings ( I did ring up but got left hanging on the phone) and now the cost is £96/month last year,  increased to £98/month this year. Based on the one and  only reading this year our  usage is 150/litres /person/day when national average 140 litres/person/day.
    Neighbour has told me he pays half what I do (same size family-2 adults 2 students, we are 4 adults). I've got water butts etc for garden use , so little used other than in the house.
    Today by chance my wife turned up with the Thames Water letter that was a 6 month comparison of water usage  vs average with price comparison of fixed rate vs metered usage. Dated 25th January 22.

    Can't remember how many of my sons and partners were living with us then, we possibly were more than the 4 currently living here.
    repeat this is Jan 2022
    Current unmetered usage- £707.10.........
    Predicted metered usage-£520.12- thats what persuaded me to change over.

    Average daily water usage 499 litres for our household (2022)
     Their  diagram indicates typical 4 person usage as 480 litres (current internet AI search search suggests 140 litres/person)

    Now (2025) paying £98 /month=£1176 pa currently 4 of us living here.
    Would be interesting to know what your actual usage was and how many people were living there then. With bills going up all round, do you know what you unmetered bull would actually be now, not merely applying inflation to the 2022 price.

    I'll check our bill and see how many litres for the 2 of us plus occasional guests and watering a large-ish garden 
  • PrincessFiona
    PrincessFiona Posts: 5,455
    Probably worth a read - usually common sense and objective reporting and recommendations - and no I haven't read it so not posting because it supports my findings if indeed it does!

    https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/cut-water-bills/
  • swords_alive
    swords_alive Posts: 4,266
    6 month bill received today, not happy. Usage down, prices up. 13m3 used in this period which is 2 less than the previous 6 months, or 52,000 cups of tea versus 60,000 previous 6 months as they put it (- baths/ showers, toilet flushes etc negligible as previously mentioned)). This bill is for £118 and is £15 more than previous.
  • PrincessFiona
    PrincessFiona Posts: 5,455
    swords_alive said:
    6 month bill received today, not happy. Usage down, prices up. 13m3 used in this period which is 2 less than the previous 6 months, or 52,000 cups of tea versus 60,000 previous 6 months as they put it (- baths/ showers, toilet flushes etc negligible as previously mentioned)). This bill is for £118 and is £15 more than previous.
    Yes, prices have gone up quite a lot, unfortunately.

    I've just checked and it is reported by the BBC as as on average £10 per month since April 25.
  • PrincessFiona
    PrincessFiona Posts: 5,455
    PrincessFiona said:
    swords_alive said:
    6 month bill received today, not happy. Usage down, prices up. 13m3 used in this period which is 2 less than the previous 6 months, or 52,000 cups of tea versus 60,000 previous 6 months as they put it (- baths/ showers, toilet flushes etc negligible as previously mentioned)). This bill is for £118 and is £15 more than previous.
    Yes, prices have gone up quite a lot, unfortunately.

    I've just checked and it is reported by the BBC as as on average £10 per month since April 25.
    https://www.water.org.uk/annual-average-bill-changes-2025-2026

    'Annual average bill changes 2025 -2026

    The changes below will take effect from April 1st 2025. National average water bills for the coming year are forecast to be £603 (a rise of £123 or 26%). This equates to an increase of around £10 a month.'

  • clive
    clive Posts: 19,470

    From Thames Water, yesterday.

    Your new charges started on 1 April 2025 and apply to everyone in our supply area. We’ve contacted customers by email or letter in February and March to notify them of the increase.

    Once a year, we review our prices. On average, typical water and wastewater bills will increase by £17 per month. Charges may vary dependent on whether you’re an unmetered or metered customer. 

    The price rise next year is however expected to be much lower than in this year, and will be more in line with inflation.

    https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/account-and-billing/understand-your-bill/value

  • Sponsored links:



  • Rob7Lee
    Rob7Lee Posts: 9,596
    swords_alive said:
    6 month bill received today, not happy. Usage down, prices up. 13m3 used in this period which is 2 less than the previous 6 months, or 52,000 cups of tea versus 60,000 previous 6 months as they put it (- baths/ showers, toilet flushes etc negligible as previously mentioned)). This bill is for £118 and is £15 more than previous.
    WTF, 13m3……. 52,000 cups of tea, the things dreams are made of.

    my last 6 month bill…..129m3 or 512,000 cups of tea!
  • Covered End
    Covered End Posts: 52,010
    swords_alive said:
    6 month bill received today, not happy. Usage down, prices up. 13m3 used in this period which is 2 less than the previous 6 months, or 52,000 cups of tea versus 60,000 previous 6 months as they put it (- baths/ showers, toilet flushes etc negligible as previously mentioned)). This bill is for £118 and is £15 more than previous.
    Wait, what an extra £15 in 6 months, wow.
  • raytreacy69
    raytreacy69 Posts: 955
    My bill has gone from £32 to £64 to £102 per month.3 of us living in house with water metre outside .Neighbours either side are paying less than half of that.Have had long running complaint to TW- getting nowhere 
  • charltonkeston
    charltonkeston Posts: 7,367
    I did the https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/water-saving/water-saving-calculator it came up with a figure of £75/m. I currently pay £82/m so I can't really grumble.

Categories

“Marketplace”