Commentary on Sections Part 5: Non-Domestic Rates Section 66: Rating of meters
118.Gas, electricity and water meters used to measure supply to consumers are subject to rating where the meters belong to the operator of the supply network.
119.The utility markets are being opened up to competition. This applies to competition in the provision of gas and electricity metering services. There has not been any decision on whether there should be competition in water metering services; most water supply to domestic properties is unmetered.
120.However under present rating legislation the network operators could face unfair competition from new companies providing separate metering services. At present no rates are payable in respect of a meter attached to a distribution network where the meter does not belong to the network operator. Thus while a network operator has to pay rates on its meters, its competitors in the provision of metering services would not pay rates on their meters attached to that operator’s network.
121.Section 66 makes meters subject to rating whether they belong to the network operator or a separate metering company. (Meters which belong to the consumer will however, as now, be outside rating.)