Our five year business planUnmetered water prices
Unmetered Water Charges
How much you pay for unmetered water in a commercial premises depends on the type of property you occupy or the kind of business that you run.
Business premises
From 1 April 1990, the variable charge for business premises has been based on the Unified Business Rate for the property supplied.
Business premises that include accommodation
From 1 April 1990, the variable charge for "mixed" premises has been based on the Unified Business Rate for the property supplied. The availability charge is increased to reflect the fact that the living accommodation is not included in this rateable value.
Multiple dwellings with single rateable value
Where a single assessment includes two or more separate dwellings, the properties will be compulsorily metered.
Premises with only one tap
The rateable value of these properties is inappropriate as a proxy for consumption. Instead a higher availability charge is payable, but no variable element.
Student accommodation
Where student accommodation is included in the assessment of college premises, Rateable Value is inappropriate as a proxy for consumption. Instead a fixed element per student is charged equal to the average consumption charge per student of metered college accommodation.
Premises with no rateable value
The charge for unmetered water supplied to a property not liable to be rated (e.g. places of worship), and with minimal water use, is a fixed charge.
Miscellaneous Charges
Building/construction work
Where water from an unmetered supply is used for building purposes, the charges are either a fixed charge per dwelling, or 0.1% of contract value.
Use of unmetered water
The occupier or owner of any premises, which are not supplied with water, who habitually obtains for use in those premises unmetered water supplied by Cambridge Water, shall be liable to pay charges as if those premises were supplied with water.
Roving licence for third party operators (using water for non-domestic purposes)
Water cannot be used for non-domestic purposes at properties where a meter has not been installed. This rule includes the use of automated watering devices and sprinklers. This licence is available for third party operators (e.g. landscape gardeners, construction companies) who frequently need to use quantities of water in the course of their work.
Cambridge Water charges
Each year our water charges are set in agreement with a formula set by the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat).
| 2011/12 | 2012/13 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household properties | |||
| Household rate per £ of rateable value | £0.512 | £0.549 | 7.2% |
| Household annual service charge (Direct Debit payer) | £23.40 | £24.80 | 6.0% |
| Household annual service charge (Other payment methods) | £26.40 | £27.80 | 5.3% |
| Mixed premises annual service charge | £114.00 | £122.40 | 7.4% |
| Business properties | |||
| Charge per £ of Business Rateable Value | £0.0512 | £0.0549 | 7.2% |
| Business property annual service charge | £23.40 | £24.80 | 6.0% |
| Other proeprties | |||
| Dwellings with only one tap | £50.00 | £53.40 | 6.8% |
| Premises with zero rateable value | £65.00 | £69.60 | 7.1% |
| Student rooms (price per student) | £90.00 | £96.20 | 6.9% |
