Can anyone help I keep getting quite forceful letters from Thames water saying I need to have a water meter installed?

[Guest]

I’ve lived in my house 15yrs and have never been asked this before so why now and do I have to have it installed x

[Abbey]

Perhaps give them a call to ask why they are wanting you to have one.

[Julia]

If you have more bedrooms than people you will save money…simple equation.

[Fay]

I’m on a meter. My bill is just over £100 every 6 months so I’m not complaining.

[Gary]

Our water bill dropped from about £500 unmetered to £300 metered (4 bed semi with two people), we could not afford to have our meter taken out!

[Kevin]

Definitely worth getting IMO. A few years ago before we got a water meter we were paying just under £100pm for water and sewage but as soon as we went on a meter it more than halved to around £40pm.

[Trace]

I moved into a house with a water meter and was gobsmacked by the price difference, so much cheaper I'd recommend doing it.

[Avril]

I think it’s a no brainer! we were paying 85.00 monthly but now 10.00 a month! We have always changed to a water meter when we move and we don’t skimp. Just use as normal

[Margaret]

I have had a water meter since 1996. Before I had a meter I was paying £240 a year and after it was installed it went down to £108 a year. Now 27 years later I still am only paying £210 a year - £30 less than what I was paying before the meter. I estimate that I have saved about £2000 over the 27 years by changing to a water meter. Some years ago they changed it to a smart meter and so I never have to send them a reading and I get an up to date statement every 6 months. Love all my smart meters - water, gas and electric. Never have to remember to send them readings, but get accurate bills each time.

[Euan]

Southern Water started installing meters for all customers back in 2010. My water bill dropped by around 40% by being billed for what I use rather than charged based on the ‘rateable value’ of the property.

[Susan]

If you live on your own and in some cases if there’s just 2 in a property they work out cheaper. Best thing I ever did was having one fitted when my children moved out.

[Ian]

Thames Water, has the power to force households to install smart meters.

Compulsory smart water meters are to be fitted by Thames water due to "high water stress" and the need to protect resources. The south east of England is a water stressed region

Residents set to have a smart meter will be contacted before work starts.

Under legislation consumers cannot refuse a smart meter, however, they say “we always assess the suitability of a meter for each property.”