Checking your water bill means you can make sure it’s accurate, keep an eye on your usage and your costs, and identify any leaks quickly…
Water Meters
Metered customers (those who have a water meter) are charged based on their water consumption, which is measured by a meter. They also pay a standing charge to cover running costs, such as customer service and pipe maintenance. Unmetered customers also have to pay this standing charge but the rest of their bill is not based off water usage. Instead it is based on:
- A flat rate charge – some companies charge the same flat rate for all of their unmetered customers, regardless of where they live and what property they reside in
- An assessed volume charge – this is usually based on this size of your property, the type of property it is, and the number of people living there
- Charges based on the rateable value of your home – before April 1990, all properties in England and Wales where given a rateable value based on how much the property could be let for
If you are an unmetered customer, you could save money by getting a water meter. You can use this free online calculator to see what your potential savings could be by switching.
Billing Cycles
If you have a water meter, you will typically receive a bill every six months from your water company. If you don’t have a water meter installed, you will normally receive a water bill once every year.
Because of this infrequency, it can be really easy for us to forget about keeping an eye on what’s actually happening with our water bill.
However, most water companies in the UK allow their customers to check their charges every month, check their billing history, update payment details, and submit meter readings to ensure accurate billing.
This is usually done via online portals, where you can set up your online account with them and stay in control of your water bills. You can find your water provider’s official website and phone number by clicking here and typing in your postcode.
Why Should I Check My Water Bill?
Checking your water bill every month is a good habit to get into, otherwise you could be landed with unexpected charges…
Water companies tend to review your direct debit amount annually; they may adjust this sooner if they detect any major changes but this is not guaranteed.
Essentially, this means you could have a leak that you are unaware of, and don’t find out it has affected your water usage until your billing amount is next reviewed. This could lead to you owing your water provider money for using more water than they thought you would and what they have been charging you for.
If you think there’s an issue with your water bill, or would like any charges explaining to you, contact your water company’s customer service by phone or email to see if they can help.
Regularly checking your water bill also means you can identify when your water usage goes up for other reasons aside from leaks, such as bathing more or keeping your sprinklers on in the garden. This means that you can make in informed choice about how much water you are actually using.