Cycling UK Forum

Revenue always has to cover costs, irrespective of whether water is metered or on a flat rate. The difference is that flat rates are regressive, and encourage and reward profligate use, whereas metered tariffs encourage frugality because people pay for what they use. They could also be made progressive too, if the government got their finger out. In the long run, flat rate tariffs will be more expensive because they don't deter consumption, and therefore incur the additional costs of building more infrastructure to satisfy the ever increasing demand (and probably the costs of increasing environmental damage too). It's worth noting that as profit is proportional to turnover, then escalating consumption is in the companys interests.

You can't blame consumers for choosing RV tariffs if they're the cheapest option, that's the whole point of having a choice. The problem is with the government for allowing that type of choice in the first place.

Graham wrote:I've just had a quick scan of the SW water website. http://www.southwestwater.co.uk/

I could not find any strategic meter rollout plan mentioned on there, but perhaps the region is not considered as water-stressed from a supply POV.

I noticed that the metered price per m3 of water is nearly double the price in this area. Whew - nearly £2 per m3 - that is steep !

Nevertheless I'll lay a bet that your friends will cut their water bill by having a meter.
It will have a very powerful attention-focussing effect.

They have cut their bill, but are sceptical for the future as I mentioned. They don't have a garden and I don't believe they ever wash their car!

SWW has perhaps double the prices as other areas. It's all this coast-line that has to be kept clean for the emmets and grockles .......... who don't pay for their water, just rent and B+B at the tourist traps. We inland get no benefit from them at all and still have to pay the exaggerated water prices.

May not be strictly true, just feels like it!

When I was talking to the Thames Water lady today, I asked if having a water meter would be a disincentive to a family wanting to buy our house at some future date. She said the Government are committed to getting as many of us as possible onto meters - hence the incentives - and it will get more and more difficult to find a property which isn't metered. As an earlier poster said, all new builds have meters.

As we build more and more homes, and our population continues to grow, the pressures on our water supply will increase. Getting us to watch what we use can't be a bad idea. I'm just grateful we're at the stage in our lives where we can take advantage of this. I fear for my girls, and any potential family they might have.

Jan

Yes Jan. I agree. The future isn't rosy.

As for paying for what you use, what about council tax?

If they want us to be water-metered just like electricity and gas, why not meter our rubbish, street lighting, schools and police?

Personally, I don't want street lighting, rubbish collections or schools. I have a torch and lights on my car and bike. I can get rid of my own rubbish thank you. I don't have children at school. Perhaps I may need the police from time to time, so it's like insurance.

Perhaps I would be happier if I paid for what I use. Maybe I should ask for a council tax rebate?

Mick F wrote:Yes Jan. I agree. The future isn't rosy.

As for paying for what you use, what about council tax?

If they want us to be water-metered just like electricity and gas, why not meter our rubbish, street lighting, schools and police?

Personally, I don't want street lighting, rubbish collections or schools. I have a torch and lights on my car and bike. I can get rid of my own rubbish thank you. I don't have children at school. Perhaps I may need the police from time to time, so it's like insurance.

Perhaps I would be happier if I paid for what I use. Maybe I should ask for a council tax rebate?

Ah but the pilice are there 24hours a day 7 days a week 52 weeks of the year, protecting you, your family, your home and your bicycles..there are tens of thousands of them right now working on everyone elses day off
I agree on the metering for waste though, my next door neighbour's would soon change their tune or try to put more of their crap in my bin (i'm getting a lock on the bin shed soon enough), there are some metering systems for waste but not that many that I know of.