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Higher bill than usual?
A high water bill can catch you by surprise, and you'll no doubt be wondering what could have caused the spike. Here are some of the common causes for a higher-than-usual bill and what you can do to rule in and out possible causes.
Steps for troubleshooting a high bill
It’s common to assume that a high bill means a possible leak on your property, but before you investigate that, start by asking these questions.
Step 1: Is the meter-read accurate?Although we take every precaution, we may have read your meter incorrectly. To check if this has happened, you’ll need to read your meter yourself.
Water meters are usually located near or just outside your property boundary. They’re in a box made of wood, plastic, concrete or metal. Here’s how to find and read your meter.
Check that the number on the meter dial is either equal to or slightly higher than the amount on the back of your most recent bill. On a mechanical meter, we bill off the black numbers. On a smart meter, we bill off the numbers before the decimal point.
It’s normal to have fluctuations in billed usage compared to your meter reading. This will be corrected on the next billing cycle. If you have a variation of more than 8kls, contact us using our online enquiry or call as at (09) 442 2222, press 2.
Although we take every precaution, we may have read your meter incorrectly. To check if this has happened, you’ll need to read your meter yourself.
Water meters are usually located near or just outside your property boundary. They’re in a box made of wood, plastic, concrete or metal. Here’s how to find and read your meter.
Check that the number on the meter dial is either equal to or slightly higher than the amount on the back of your most recent bill. On a mechanical meter, we bill off the black numbers. On a smart meter, we bill off the numbers before the decimal point.
It’s normal to have fluctuations in billed usage compared to your meter reading. This will be corrected on the next billing cycle. If you have a variation of more than 8kls, contact us using our online enquiry or call as at (09) 442 2222, press 2.
Step 2: Is this a catch-up bill?For customers with mechanical meters: We aim to have a meter reader take an actual reading of your meter every two months. In between we use your previous two actual readings to calculate the estimated usage.
If you’ve had several estimated bills in a row due to obstacles like access issues and this is your first actual meter read in some time, that could explain why your bill is higher than usual. On your bill, estimated meter reads are shown on the ‘billed usage history’ graph with an ‘E’ – actual reads are indicated with an ‘A’.
For customers with smart meters: We aim to receive automatic readings of your meter every month and issue bills based on your household’s actual water use.
If you’ve had several low bills in a row showing no water use, at your property, this could explain why your bill is higher than usual now. There is an issue affecting some EDMI smart meters that means they can stop transmitting data to us. When we become aware of the issue, we move the meter back to the manual meter reading route. Unfortunately, this can take a while to implement, which is why you received low bills previously. This high bill reflects your property’s actual water use since the smart meter stopped transmitting data.
You may want to consider submitting your own meter reading. Learn more here.
For customers with mechanical meters: We aim to have a meter reader take an actual reading of your meter every two months. In between we use your previous two actual readings to calculate the estimated usage.
If you’ve had several estimated bills in a row due to obstacles like access issues and this is your first actual meter read in some time, that could explain why your bill is higher than usual. On your bill, estimated meter reads are shown on the ‘billed usage history’ graph with an ‘E’ – actual reads are indicated with an ‘A’.
For customers with smart meters: We aim to receive automatic readings of your meter every month and issue bills based on your household’s actual water use.
If you’ve had several low bills in a row showing no water use, at your property, this could explain why your bill is higher than usual now. There is an issue affecting some EDMI smart meters that means they can stop transmitting data to us. When we become aware of the issue, we move the meter back to the manual meter reading route. Unfortunately, this can take a while to implement, which is why you received low bills previously. This high bill reflects your property’s actual water use since the smart meter stopped transmitting data.
You may want to consider submitting your own meter reading. Learn more here.
Step 3: Has your water usage changed? Your bill may be higher if you have extra people staying or living in your home. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Has there been a long period of time where extra people have been living or staying at your property?
- Have you installed new appliances that use more water?
- Have you used your washing machine or dishwasher more often?
More people or greater use of appliances will often lead to a higher bill.
It’s also normal to use more water in summer than in winter months. The following activities can lead to a higher water bill:
- Watering your garden more often
- Leaving outside hoses or sprinklers on by mistake
- Using a water blaster
- Filling a swimming pool
- Showering more often
- Landscaping or renovating.
Your bill may be higher if you have extra people staying or living in your home. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Has there been a long period of time where extra people have been living or staying at your property?
- Have you installed new appliances that use more water?
- Have you used your washing machine or dishwasher more often?
More people or greater use of appliances will often lead to a higher bill.
It’s also normal to use more water in summer than in winter months. The following activities can lead to a higher water bill:
- Watering your garden more often
- Leaving outside hoses or sprinklers on by mistake
- Using a water blaster
- Filling a swimming pool
- Showering more often
- Landscaping or renovating.
Step 4: Check for a leak If you've ruled out the above, you may have a water leak on your property. But it’s important to do a leak test before calling in a plumber. Follow the link below for how to check for and manage leaks.
Private leaks are your responsibility to fix, whereas leaks on the public network are our responsibility. Here’s a diagram of your responsibilities and our responsibilities when it comes to pipes. If you find a leak on your property, you’ll need to contact a registered plumber to fix it.
If you've ruled out the above, you may have a water leak on your property. But it’s important to do a leak test before calling in a plumber. Follow the link below for how to check for and manage leaks.
Private leaks are your responsibility to fix, whereas leaks on the public network are our responsibility. Here’s a diagram of your responsibilities and our responsibilities when it comes to pipes. If you find a leak on your property, you’ll need to contact a registered plumber to fix it.
Need help paying your bill?
If you’re experiencing financial difficulty, we can provide options that may help.
Calculate your approximate water usage
Did you know that you can calculate which part of your home is using the most water? The Smart Watermark water calculator helps estimate your approximate water use so you can identify possible issues.
High bill due to higher-than-average water usage
If your leak test showed no leak and your water usage is consistently higher than the average of a household your size (see usage target on the back of your water bill), you are eligible for a free water check through EcoMatters.
One of their Sustainability Advisors will help you figure out why your bills are high, offering personalised advice based on your home and water use habits. This free check takes about an hour, and any water-saving devices the team supplies are also free of charge.