The fairest way to pay for water and to control the amount used is through water metering. For this reason, household customers are now being widely metered and most business customers are already metered. We shall continue our four year programme of installing meters at those business premises which lack them at present, and where it is feasible. In some cases - shared or complex supplies for example - it may not be possible to charge by meter. Nevertheless, a meter will be installed to account for use.

If we can't fit a meter, a commercial customer may elect to transfer to a commercial assessed tariff which is based on an annual standing charge and the assessed use of water by the number of staff employed in the business.