17 August 2007
Millions of water customers across the UK could be forced to have water meters installed in their homes within the next three years, it has been reported.
A move by the Environment Minister, Phil Woolas, means that 12 water companies who believe their area to be under "serious water stress" now qualify to apply to install compulsory water metering in households.
Under the new legislation water companies will have to apply to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to get their application for water metering approved, along with the agreement of the Environment Agency, Ofwat and the Consumer Council for Water.
The new rules are part of a drive by water companies to prevent or reduce water shortage through means other than building new reservoirs which can prove very costly.
"As the impacts of climate change on our weather and rainfall patterns increase, we have to face up to the fact that what we might now consider to be extremes could become more commonplace," Mr Woolas explained.
"We need a flexible range of tools at our disposal if we are to manage supplies sustainably in the future. Metering saves water, about 10% per household, and it seems right to me that in seriously water-stressed areas the costs and benefits of compulsory metering are given consideration alongside other options.
"This is not a green light for universal metering, and it in no way absolves companies from their responsibility to deliver on leakage targets," he added.
And while Dame Yve Buckland, Chairwoman of the Consumer Council for Water, welcomed the move she remained concerned over its impact on low-income households.
She added: "We support the government's view that metering is essential in water-stressed areas, but have argued that compulsory metering will make it difficult for low-income, larger households to afford their water bills, and there is currently no credible support system to help them."
Water companies believe metering has already helped thousands of households cut annual bills by more than £100.
According to Anglian Water, 60% of their customers now have water meters installed.
© 2008 Adfero Ltd
Content for the uSwitch.com market news service is provided by a third party, Adfero Ltd. Whilst uSwitch.com makes reasonable efforts to check the reliability of this content, uSwitch.com does not guarantee the accuracy thereof or endorse the views or opinions given by Adfero Ltd, unless expressly stated otherwise.