Sunderland City Council in Tyne and Wear is highlighting a free online calculator to help residents see if switching to a water meter could reduce their annual bills. The council began promoting the tool from Northumbrian Water on February 19, 2026, as part of an effort to help local people manage rising costs.
The digital tool allows households to enter details such as how many people live in the home and how often they use water-reliant appliances. This information provides a personalised estimate of potential savings before a resident decides to request a physical meter from the supplier.
According to Northumbrian Water, there is a two-year trial period for those who choose to switch. If a household finds they are not saving money, they can move back to their previous unmetered billing method within the first two years.
New pricing for the 2026 and 2027 period was recently made available on the Northumbrian Water website. This comes as the utility company works on a regional project to install 900,000 smart meters to help monitor water use more accurately.
The promotion of this tool is part of the Sunderland City Council Household Support Fund for the 2025 and 2026 financial year. This fund is designed to provide financial guidance and assistance to residents who are dealing with increased utility bills and living expenses.
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