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By Jason Beattie, Deputy Political Editor 23/07/2008 Hard-hit families facing new £200 rise in their bills Millions of families face soaring water bills under plans to introduce meters for every home in the UK. A Government report claims there is now a "good case" for compulsory metering. But the plan has outraged consumer groups - and been slammed as a stealth tax that could hit poorest families hardest. Some households would be up to £200 a year worse off - at time when they are already reeling from rising food and fuel costs. At the moment water companies can introduce "pay-as-you-flow" meters in areas at high risk of drought. But the Department for the Environment wants to extend this across the country. Ministers say droughts are likely to become more common unless people start to use less water. But meters will have the... [read full story]
