Yet again metering water metering is becoming a significant issue. The papers were full over the weekend of stories about Defra accepting the case for basing all water charges on metering as well as the potential for water shortages in the South West after the exceptionally low rainfall in 2010.
The coalition has promised to review water charges and in particular tackle the anomaly of customers in the South West paying the highest water bills in the country. Annual bills are £723 compared with £367 nationally.
But installing meters is expensive, at about £200 a time and there are big issues over how to install meters in buildings that have been turned into flats, an increasing trend in most major cities. It can be very difficult and consequently costs can be excessive.
The debts of the water companies due to unpaid water bills are increasing fast up 20% last year. In London water bills will have to increase significantly to pay for the Thames Tideway tunnel. Further increases on top to reduce bills in the South West and pay for metering will be very unpopular and difficult to sell.
So although installing water meters may sound like a sensible idea to reduce water consumption and ensure people pay for what they use. The prospect of a significant increase in bills will not be an easy message for the politicians to sell. Defra were due to launch a consultation shortly but the debacle over the forest sell off is likely to delay any decisions on water meters. Expect much talking but little action.
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