Seasonal tariffs may help combat severe water stress

Southern Water will start installing new water meters in its service area in June, giving it the possibility to introduce seasonal drinking water tariffs in the event of drought. Under the new plans, users would pay 6% more than the standard rate from June-September, and 2% less from October to May (£0.922p/m3 and £0.999p/m3, respectively).

Southern – whose customers live in an area of severe water stress – does not have a specific target for the volumetric savings that could be achieved by implementing seasonal tariffs, although the scheme will run alongside its universal metering programme, which aims at reducing per capita consumption by 10%.

Mid Kent Water, which merged with South East Water in 2007, has run a pilot seasonal tariff project since 2006, with some new-build homes paying a summer rate and the rest paying a standard rate. Preliminary results should be known by year-end.