Could a smart meter help you save hundreds in water bills?

Yahoo

4 days ago

The Independent Water Commission called for compulsory smart water meters to reduce household consumption. But do they save money?
The government has promised a "root and branch reform" of the water industry.
It follows the long-awaited publication of an independent review by Sir Jon Cunliffe, which made 88 recommendations to tackle problems in the sector – amid public fury over pollution in rivers, soaring bills and the bonuses of water company bosses.
One of those recommendations was for the government to "accelerate efforts to reduce household water consumption by introducing compulsory smart metering".
So, what are smart water meters and can they save money? Yahoo News UK explains.
What are smart water meters and how do they work?
Smart water meters, just like smart gas and electricity meters, are devices that automatically track water usage.
As per the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), which represents consumers in England and Wales, the type of meters expected to be rolled out in future are advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) meters.
These "send automatic readings directly to the water company throughout the day using a secure connection. With AMI meters, customers can check their water use through an app or online on the water company's website, helping to spot leaks and manage usage better".
According to government documents from December last year, 12% of households in England have a smart water meter.
How much money could I save?
Water bills have been rising. The typical UK bill-payer saw their payments increase by an average of £86 in April, with one company – Southern Water – hiking bills by more than £200.
So, how much of a difference could a smart water meter make? The CCW says they "can help people understand and reduce their water use, which could save money".
It told Yahoo News UK water meters, whether smart or traditional, tend to result in cheaper bills: "During the winter and early spring, CCW saw a huge surge in people using our water meter calculator to see if they could combat the large April water bill rises by switching to a water meter. Among those that identified they could save by switching, the average saving was around £150 a year.
"So, there are significant savings to be made for some households just by having a meter installed, whether it's a smart or traditional meter."
It added that an advantage of smart meters is their real-time data showing any unusual spikes in water use, "helping to identify excessive usage or leaks more quickly than a manual reading would, and potentially leading to bigger savings".
Do I have to switch to a smart water meter?
Not at this stage. Compulsory smart water meters are only a recommendation, with the review simply calling for the government to "accelerate efforts" towards this goal.
It stated: "Options within the water sector could involve looking at expanding criteria for compulsory water metering to be beyond 'areas of serious water stress' and the other limited existing circumstances in which compulsory metering can apply currently.
Watch: 'Water companies acted against public interest'
"In considering options for taking forward reform in this area, the government should consider the experience of rolling out smart meters in other sectors. Within the energy sector, unless there is good reason not to, suppliers must install a smart meter if they are replacing a meter or installing a meter for the first time."
However, even smart gas and electricity meters – which have been rolled out across two-thirds of Great Britain – are still not compulsory.
Read more
What 'once-in-a-generation' water reform report will mean for your bills (Yahoo News UK)
Key questions answered on water reforms to protect consumers and environment (PA Media)
Water chiefs' pay rises to average of £1.1m despite ban on bonuses and outrage over pollution (The Guardian)