In article , Mary
Fisher wrote:

But why shouldn't we pay for what we use?

We should, and doubtless we all will before long. Profiteering by the
water compnaies shouldn't be an issue as Ofcom keeps a close eye on
prices and they are anyway limited by law to a maximum profit of 7% of
turnover.

One reason they have been playing for time is that metering technology
is antiquated and a lot of people have been trying to come up with a
meter which does more than simply measure the amount of water passing
through it. They want timers as well so that they can charge more for
high season water in summer (as per the current smart metering trials
in Kent, and they also want data feedback which tells them where the
water goes, eg to a bath, a kitchen appliance, an outside tap, etc.
They would then finally have reliable data on water usage patterns and
needs and they would also be able to introduce different tariffs for
different uses. Current meter technology doesn't differentiate between
indoor use (which the compnaies have a statutory obligation to supply)
and outside tap use (which currently has no service level agreement,
hence the over-use and mis-use of hosepipe bans).

"Stan The Man" wrote in message
...
In article , Mary
Fisher wrote:

But why shouldn't we pay for what we use?

We should, and doubtless we all will before long. Profiteering by the
water compnaies shouldn't be an issue as Ofcom keeps a close eye on
prices and they are anyway limited by law to a maximum profit of 7% of
turnover.

One reason they have been playing for time is that metering technology
is antiquated and a lot of people have been trying to come up with a
meter which does more than simply measure the amount of water passing
through it. They want timers as well so that they can charge more for
high season water in summer (as per the current smart metering trials
in Kent,

Again - how do you know?

and they also want data feedback which tells them where the
water goes, eg to a bath, a kitchen appliance, an outside tap, etc.

How do you know?

They would then finally have reliable data on water usage patterns and
needs and they would also be able to introduce different tariffs for
different uses.

How do you know?

Current meter technology doesn't differentiate between
indoor use (which the compnaies have a statutory obligation to supply)
and outside tap use (which currently has no service level agreement,
hence the over-use and mis-use of hosepipe bans).

How do you know?

In article , Mary
Fisher wrote:

How do you know?

It's my business to know - but I won't tell you what my business is.
However, most of the information is published by Ofwat, Defra, the
Environment Agency, the WRc, the Water Demand Management Group, the
water companies, WaterUK, CCWater, Waterwise, Exeter University,
Imperial College London, the Institute for Public Policy Research and
various associated technical bodies and NGOs.

Here's a quote from CCWater (formerly the Consumer Council for Water):

"Current metering policy is inherently inefficient as, with the
exception of new developments, installation is piecemeal as companies
react largely to notifications of change of occupation or to customers¹
requests to install meters. This limits the development of smart
metering thereby reducing the prospect of innovative tariffs. If
companies introduce tariffs that vary according to the stress on supply
and increase according to consumption above a certain threshold, then
consumers will be able to adjust their water use on a rational basis.
Such tariffs would need safeguards to protect vulnerable groups and
those on low incomes."

Information on Kent's seasonal tariff trial can be found at
http://www.savingsontap.co.uk/tariff.html

For the rest, Google "identiflow"

"Stan The Man" wrote in message
...
In article , Mary
Fisher wrote:

How do you know?

It's my business to know - but I won't tell you what my business is.

In that case I shan't read any further.
However, most of the information is published by Ofwat, Defra, the
Environment Agency, the WRc, the Water Demand Management Group, the
water companies, WaterUK, CCWater, Waterwise, Exeter University,
Imperial College London, the Institute for Public Policy Research and
various associated technical bodies and NGOs.

Here's a quote from CCWater (formerly the Consumer Council for Water):

"Current metering policy is inherently inefficient as, with the
exception of new developments, installation is piecemeal as companies
react largely to notifications of change of occupation or to customers¹
requests to install meters. This limits the development of smart
metering thereby reducing the prospect of innovative tariffs. If
companies introduce tariffs that vary according to the stress on supply
and increase according to consumption above a certain threshold, then
consumers will be able to adjust their water use on a rational basis.
Such tariffs would need safeguards to protect vulnerable groups and
those on low incomes."

Information on Kent's seasonal tariff trial can be found at
http://www.savingsontap.co.uk/tariff.html

For the rest, Google "identiflow"

In article , Mary
Fisher wrote:

In that case I shan't read any further.

I'm sure I will get over that, somehow. I've already wasted enough of
my time trying to help your understanding. Try doing some research of
your own if you are really interested - and if you are not, don't
troll.

In article , Stan The Man
writes
This limits the development of smart
metering thereby reducing the prospect of innovative tariffs.


I'm so glad Waitrose and Tescos don't have
"innovative tariffs"



--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

"Janet Tweedy" wrote in message
...
In article , Stan The Man
writes
This limits the development of smart
metering thereby reducing the prospect of innovative tariffs.


I'm so glad Waitrose and Tescos don't have
"innovative tariffs"



I wouldn't know one if it jumped out and shouted at me :-)

Mary

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
. net...

"Stan The Man" wrote in message
...
In article , Mary
Fisher wrote:

But why shouldn't we pay for what we use?

We should, and doubtless we all will before long. Profiteering by the
water compnaies shouldn't be an issue as Ofcom keeps a close eye on
prices and they are anyway limited by law to a maximum profit of 7% of
turnover.

One reason they have been playing for time is that metering technology
is antiquated and a lot of people have been trying to come up with a
meter which does more than simply measure the amount of water passing
through it. They want timers as well so that they can charge more for
high season water in summer (as per the current smart metering trials
in Kent,

Again - how do you know?

and they also want data feedback which tells them where the
water goes, eg to a bath, a kitchen appliance, an outside tap, etc.

How do you know?

They would then finally have reliable data on water usage patterns and
needs and they would also be able to introduce different tariffs for
different uses.

How do you know?

Current meter technology doesn't differentiate between
indoor use (which the compnaies have a statutory obligation to supply)
and outside tap use (which currently has no service level agreement,
hence the over-use and mis-use of hosepipe bans).

How do you know?

He knows you know