Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Contact Norman at:
Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
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2003 (and previous) press releases
South East Water and Southern Water customers could save £11m a year
Local MP and Lib Dem Shadow Environment Secretary Norman Baker is urging Ministers to back his proposal for universal water metering, which he says could save South East Water and Southern Water consumers a staggering £11m a year, as well as take pressure off scarce water resources in the South East.
Research compiled by the Lib Dem MP reveals that metered water is markedly cheaper than unmetered water at both South East Water and Southern Water. The costs per average household per year are:
· South East Water: £126 for unmetered water, compared with £108 for metered water (£18 saving a year)
· Southern Water: £91.20 for unmetered water compared with £85.20 for metered water (£6 saving a year)
If metering were introduced nationwide, British consumers would cut £317m from their water bills. But there would be a small cost to the social security budget in order to ensure that large families on low incomes are not adversely hit financially.
Speaking about water bills, Norman Baker says:
"My constituents face a rising tide of water charges. Metering will bring down water bills and enable scarce water resources to be used more sensibly. It will also help water companies cope under the new pressure of John Prescott's decision to allow thousands of new homes to be built in the South East.
"It is also pretty indefensible to continue basing water values on the theoretical amount of renting your house out in 1973. The government have a golden opportunity in the Water Bill before Parliament to introduce universal metering and save customers a packet - yet they seem unwilling to take it.
"Metering will reduce water bills in my constituency by up to £18 a year and provide a welcome boost to the environment. I shall continue to put pressure on Ministers to make this fundamental change to how we pay for our water."