South East Water is pushing ahead with its compulsory Customer Metering Programme, with installations due to reach Haywards Heath and the Tonbridge and Malling area this month.

During an approximate 34 week period, nearly 10,000 meters will be fitted in the Haywards Heath area and 12,000 meters in Tonbridge.

The South East of England has been classed as an area of serious water stress - the compulsory metering programme is an important part of the company’s long term plan to manage the future of water supplies for customers and the environment.

Customers metered since the start of the programme have so far continued to pay for their water in the same way as they always have done. From April, these charges will be replaced by metered charges and customers will start paying based on their actual consumption. Meters installed from April will automatically be switched across to metered charging.

Charles Healey, Metering Manager at South East Water, said:

“The Customer Metering Programme forms a key part of our plan to manage future demand for water for our 2.1 million customers. Research has found that customers on a water meter use 10% less water than those who are unmetered.

“Installing meters will give us the tools to help manage demand for water in an area which is in serious water-stress - they will help us to detect leaks, encourage customers to think about their water use and behaviour, and are ultimately a fairer way of paying for water.”

South East Water has also developed a range of financial support measures with Ofwat which will help customers who may have difficulty paying any increase in their new metered water bill. The payments schemes will be available from April.

In 2010 Elster was awarded the contract to supply South East Water up to 250,000 volumetric water meters with wireless automatic meter reading (AMR)  systems over the next five years. Elster has made something of a clean sweep with the water companies in England - the firm also has contracts in place with Veolia, South West Water, Anglian Water, Sutton and East Surrey, Wessex Water, Bristol Water and Sembcorp Bournemouth.