Thames Water is insisting we have a meter. Can we refuse?
SB, London
No. In 2007 the government identified London and the south-east as a water-stressed area and required water companies to consider compulsory metering, which has been shown to cut average water consumption by 10%.
Thames Water has gone down this route. If you refuse a meter it can put you on a higher tariff, which may cost more than a metered supply.
However, you get one year from installation to monitor and adjust your consumption before you are switched to a metered account.
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