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Last Updated: Thursday, 10 February, 2005, 08:26 GMT
Water meter requests up by third
Water meter
Water meters will help the company keep its bill projections in line
The number of people asking to switch to water meters rose by a third in December after Ofwat announced a hike in charges.

Ofwat announced in December that South West Water (SWW) will have the highest average bill by 2009-10, at £444 per year, up from the current £357.

Nearly 50% of SWW customers are already on a meter and on average, about 600 people a week ask to move to meters.

But in the three weeks running up to Christmas, it increased to 800 a week.

SWW said the increases were needed to meet the company's obligations for improved sewerage and water pipes.

But the change to meters is good news for the company as it needs a certain proportion of customers in Devon and Cornwall to make the change in order to keep its bill projections for the next five years in line.


SEE ALSO:
Burst main hits town water supply
05 Jan 05 |  Devon
Water company shedding 100 jobs
09 Dec 04 |  Cornwall
SW water bills facing steep rise
02 Dec 04 |  Devon


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