Heat metering

What is a heat meter and why do we use them?

A heat meter measures how much energy you are using in your home for space heating and hot water.

This allows you to check your heat consumption and pay only for the heat and hot water used.

Government regulations now require us to install heat meters within properties when it is cost effective.

We are currently undertaking a project to retrofit heat meters within some estates in the borough. If your property is eligible for a heat meter you would have been contacted already.

All communally heated new build properties also have heat meters installed. Residents will be informed of this on moving into their properties.

In 2022 we ran a consultation to allow all residents on district heating to comment on our draft heat metering policy.  In January 2024, we formalised the heat metering policy.  You can download the policy document below.

Heat Networks (Metering and Billing) Regulations (2020)

Heat Metering Policy ^{(PDF, 355kb)}

Heat Metering Consultation Report ^{(PDF, 515kb)}

How to pay

Properties with heat meters pay according to consumption rather than a flat rate.

Heat tariffs are set to recover our cost of operating the networks. Tariffs are comprised of a daily standing charge and a variable kWh charge.

For tenants a single borough-wide tariff is used to calculate weekly heating costs. For homeowners an estate specific tariff is calculated and individual charges are recovered via the properties’ annual service charge bills.

If you have a heat meter, you can monitor your consumption via an Energy Portal on the MySouthwark website. This requires your MySouthwark account to be linked to your Housing Online account. 

Tenants

Before heat meters were installed, tenants had a fixed weekly charge applied to their rent account. This charge did not change regardless of how much heat and hot water a property used.

From 1 April 2024, the fixed weekly charges will be replaced with new individual charges based on the heat consumption at the property.

If there is not enough data available to calculate an individual charge, residents will be placed on an ‘average consumer’ weekly charge.

Weekly heating charges will be reviewed on an annual basis (or more frequently where required) and either increased or decreased depending on your consumption.

Homeowners

Leaseholders will continue to pay for heating and hot water through their estimated service charges issued at the start of the year. However, with heat meters installed, these estimates will be based on individual consumption rather than bedroom weighting.

Service charges will then be actualised to reflect recorded property consumption and an estate specific tariff when these data become available at the end of the financial year.

Freeholders will continue to receive their actual service charge on an annual basis at the end of the financial year. These costs will be based on individual heat consumption and an estate specific tariff.

For more information on how your service charges are calculated please contact the Homeownership team using the eform.

Pre-pay meters

Some properties are served by pre-payment heat meters operated by external billing agents. Residents living in these properties will manage their heating accounts online by making payments to third parties.

Hemiko Limited (previously Pinnacle Power Limited) are the billing agent for these properties:

• Alfred Fagon Apartments
• Commercial Way
• Crimscott Street
• Lilac House
• Wouldham Court

You can contact Hemiko Limited via their website. Email hello@with.energy or phone 0333 8000 111.

Switch2 Energy Limited are the billing agent for these properties:

• Cezanne House
• Sumner Road
• Sylvan Grove
• William Cuffay House

You can contact Switch2 Energy Limited via their website. Email info@switch2.co.uk or phone 0333 321 2010.

How to save money on your heating

With just a few small steps you can stay warm, save money and reduce your carbon emissions:

• Familiarise yourself with your heating controls and turn your heating off when you don’t need it
• Turning down your thermostat by just 1°C can make a difference
• Draw your curtains at dusk to keep the heat in your home
• Have a quick shower rather than a bath – showers use a lot less hot water
• Keep internal doors closed to reduce draughts.

For more information on how to save money on your energy bills, please visit Energy Saving Trust

Heat Meter definitions

kWh (kilowatt-hour)

A kilowatt-hour is a unit of energy used for billing. Your heat meter measures energy used in kWh. Your usage on your MySouthwark Account will also be displayed in kWh.

Standing Charge

This is the fixed element of your heat tariff. It is a daily charge to recover the fixed costs of providing heating and hot water services to the property.

Variable Charge

This is the variable element of your heat tariff. It is the rate at which your heat consumption is charged per kWh.

Page last updated: 22 February 2024