In this section you will find answers to the most popular questions regarding Site Area charging.
Q - Why did you change the way you charge for surface water drainage and highway drainage services?
Prior to April 2007, the charge for this service would have been calculated using either your rateable value or a standing charge related to the size of your meter. Although the rateable value provides a useful guide to the size of your property, and therefore its requirements for drainage services, there can be inconsistencies for similar sized properties across our region. Site area charging takes into consideration both the size (footprint) of your property as well as the external drained areas of your site. We believe this provides a more cost reflective charge for our service, and one that is not unduly influenced by the property location.
Q - How can I check the map which shows my chargeable area?
Simple - visit our map checking service. You will need your customer account number to use this service; you can find this on your wastewater bill. If you believe your chargeable area to be incorrect, you have the option to print out your map and return it to us with your corrections so we can amend your charges. If you have any problems accessing your map, please call us on 0845 746 2255.
Q - What if I'm not connected / only partially connected to the sewer for surface water drainage?
You can apply for a reduction if you are not connected for surface water drainage to our sewer. However, you can only claim for a partial connection if 10% or more of the chargeable area does not drain to our network (either directly or indirectly). If your claim is successful and you have no connection, we will stop charging you for the surface water drainage part of the charge and only charge you for the highway drainage part of the charge. If you make a claim for a partial connection and your claim is successful, you will be given a new charging band for surface water drainage that reflects the chargeable area which drains surface water either directly or indirectly to our sewer. The charging band for your highway drainage part of the charge will not change, as the reduction only applies to the surface water drainage part of the charge. Download our surface water drainage claim form, which you will need to complete in order to make the claim.
Q - Is it possible for me to reduce my charges?
As your charges for surface water drainage and highway drainage services are calculated based on the chargeable area of the total site area of your premises, it makes good financial sense to consider options to reduce your charges. This section provides some useful advice.
Q - My business is just one of many on this site / in this building. How have you worked out our site area?
In some cases where a site or building has more than one occupier or a number of individual charging values for different parts of a site/building, the chargeable area will include shared areas. In these instances the shared area will be apportioned using either the individual footprint of each part of the individual charging value for each premises within the site/building. The proportion of the shared area calculated will then be added to the footprint of the individual premises to determine the chargeable area for that occupier. In both cases we have apportioned the shared chargeable area as fairly as possible between all of the occupiers of the premises within a site.
Q - My property is mostly domestic / household. Why am I being charged in this way?
If your property is used as both a household and non-household premise, it is classed as a non-household property for charging purposes. Most properties in this situation are in the lowest charging bands 1 and 2. Click here to see the site area charging bands (your wastewater bill also shows your band) and charges for 2011-2012.
Q - Can I query the charging band allocated to my property?
If you wish to inform us of any change or alteration to your business premises, or query the charging band we have allocated to your premises, please telephone 0845 746 2255 or email: siteareateam@uuplc.co.uk. Alternatively complete our application form and return this to us.