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Smart metering

An upgraded meter can help you save money and identify leaks

How are smart meters different to other meters?

Traditional meter

  • Your meter is read twice per year by a meter reader who comes to your property
  • You can read your meter by prising up the cover and reading the numbers
  • If you try to save water to reduce your bill, you need to wait for us to read your meter or do it yourself to see if your efforts are working
  • We notify you if your water usage increases significantly in case there is a leak – after this is flagged by a meter reading
  • Data from meters give us a more accurate picture of your water usage, which helps us plan and manage the system

Smart meter

  • Sends data remotely and frequently, providing infrastructure and coverage updates
  • You can access meter data whenever and wherever you like by accessing MyAccount on your device
  • You can track your water usage habits through smart meter data which is normally sent to your MyAccount every 12 – 24 hours
  • Your smart meter triggers an alert if there’s a constant flow of water, making it easier to pick up on leaks early
  • Customer meter data is more detailed and accurate, so we can plan better and improve services

How do you access your smart meter data?

You need to be registered to use MyAccount, our online account management service. If you’re not signed up yet, you can register online – it’s quick and easy to sign up. You’ll need your customer number, which you can find on your bill or emails from us.

As well as giving you access to your meter data, MyAccount lets you manage your account details, pay bills and see payment history. It’s the most convenient way to manage your account.

Your new smart meter will be accessible in the original chamber location where the old meter was, and the dials showing the meter readings will still be visible underneath the protective flip lid.  

Bills will still be issued in the same way as before, so whether you pay your bills on receipt, monthly or quarterly, this will remain unchanged.

What are the benefits of using a smart meter?

There are two main things a smart meter allows you to do:

  1. Your smart meter will normally send your water usage data to your MyAccount every 12-24 hours, which helps us provide you with a more accurate water bill.  
  2. Spotting leaks. If water is leaking from somewhere on your pipework, this will push up your bills. A smart meter helps you spot leaks earlier, to help avoid you paying for wasted water.

Why is there a shift towards smart meters?

As well as having advantages for customers, smart meters have benefits for us too. These include:

  1. Clearer data – understanding how customers use water enables us to predict future needs and plan for these.
  2. Reduced costs – remote meters send data remotely, helping to make us more efficient as a business.
  3. Managing demand – water meters encourage customers to avoid wasting water, which helps us ensure there’s enough to meet the region’s needs.
  4. Addressing leakage – making sure water isn’t wasted through leaks is a top priority for us. Smart meters help us to pick up on leaks on customer-owned parts of the network.
  5. Housekeeping/ Maintenance – Giving us better visibility of where there may be irregular pressures on our network, which ensures we carry out preventative maintenance.

Around 40% of water customers in England and Wales have a water meter (of any type) at the moment. However, this percentage is steadily increasing. Partly, this is because customers see meters as a fairer way of paying for water because you only pay for what you use.