Your Complete Guide to Utilities in Albury
Are you moving and want to know more about Albury? Our comprehensive utilities guide to Albury is going to provide you with everything there is to know about broadband, area codes, power generation and energy distributors, and Albury water and sewerage. Keep reading to learn everything about utilities in Albury.
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About Albury, Surrey
Albury GU5 has a population of 574 and is located in the county of Surrey. Surrey has a population of 518,467 people.
Who supplies my water in Albury?
Albury water utilities are supplied by Affinity Water. Here are the main contact numbers for Affinity Water, and Thames Water:
How to get in touch with the water suppliers in Albury
Speaking to an advisor at Affinity Water or Thames Water is one of many contact methods to talk about your Albury water issues.
Affinity Water phone numbers
In the table below you will find the phone numbers for Affinity Water general enquiries and emergencies.
| Affinity Water contact number | Affinity Water Emergency contact number |
|---|---|
| 0345 357 2401 | 0345 357 2407 |
| Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 8am-2pm, Emergencies 24/7/365 | |
Thames Water phone numbers
In the table below you will find the phone numbers for Thames Water general enquiries and emergencies.
| Thames Water contact number | Thames Water Emergency contact number |
|---|---|
| 0800 980 8800 | 0800 714 614 |
| Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-6pm, Emergencies 24/7/365 | |
Write to Affinity Water or Thames Water
You can also get in touch with Affinity Water or Thames Water, you have the choice of posting a letter or sending an email. You can also submit your request on the Affinity Water or Thames Water website.
Affinity Water
Customer that want to post a letter to Affinity Water can do so by writing to the Affinity Water address below:
| Affinity Water Address | |
|---|---|
| Tamblin Way Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 9EZ |
|
Thames Water
Customer that want to post a letter to Thames Water can do so by writing to the Thames Water address below:
| Thames Water Address | |
|---|---|
| Thames Water Customer Services, PO Box 234 Swindon SN38 3TW |
|
If you would like to email Thames Water, you can use the email address below:
| Thames Water Email Address |
|---|
| [email protected] |
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Price of water in Albury
Water rates in Albury will vary depending on if your home has a water meter or not. You can easily find out whether your Albury water rates are metered or not by looking at a recent water bill or by contacting your supplier. Homes with metered Albury water rates will have a meter number listed on their water bills.
Metered Customers in Albury
Customers that have a water meter at their Albury house will pay an annual fixed charge, plus an extra charge for each cubic meter (m3) consumed. The fixed charge is to cover the essential running costs of Affinity Water or Thames Water. Whilst the variable charges are for the consumption at your Albury home.
Unmetered Customers in Albury
Customers that don't have a water meter at their Albury home have an annual charge for their water consumption. This charge is fixed, meaning you'll pay the same no matter how much water you use at your Albury home.
As an unmetered customer, the rate you pay for water in Albury is based on the rateable value of your home. The rateable value of your Albury water rates will have been determined by the local council in the 90s and are unlikey to have changed since then.
Should I get a water meter installed?
That depends on how much water you consume. If your family is small, or you don't live with others, having a water meter installed at your Albury may save you money.
Customers with big families are probably not going to save money by having a meter installed.
How much is the average water bill in Albury?
The average water bill Albury residents are being charged can differ between suppliers in your area. The table below shows the average water bill by supplier:
| Supplier | Average Monthly Water Bill | Average Annual Water Bill |
|---|---|---|
| Affinity Water | £16.67 | £200 |
| Thames Water | £19.33 | £232 |
How do I pay my Albury water bill?
First of all, you will need to register with Affinity Water or Thames Water. After you register your details with Affinity Water or Thames Water, you will be able to choose your preferred payment method, such as:
- Direct Debit
- Online payments
- Pay over the phone
- Bank transfer
- Payment by cheque
- Payment card
It's also possible to choose the frequency of your Albury bill. Whilst some customers would prefer to pay annually, other customers might like to set up quarterly, monthly, or even weekly payments instead. As soon as you've set up your Affinity Water or Thames Water account, you will be able to choose how you pay your water bill, and how often you need to pay it.
Can I switch the water supplier in Albury?
Unfortunately, your water suppliers are fixed and depend on the catchment area based on your postcode. As a customer in Albury GU5, your water suppliers are Affinity Water and Thames Water.
Since April 2017, business water customers have been able to switch water suppliers. You can find out if your business is eligible in our guide to switching water suppliers.
Albury Water Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have answered the most commonly asked questions that customers in Albury have about their water supply.
Frequently Asked Questions About Water in Albury
Is the tap water in Albury safe to drink?
Yes! The tap water is safe to drink in Albury. You can rest assured that Albury water meets high standards making it safe to drink. The UK Drinking Water Inspectorate has scored Albury water quality 99.94% in overall mean zonal compliance, which means your water is safe to drink. It is not required to boil or filter Albury water to make it drinkable.
Where does the water in Albury come from?
There are three main sources of water that supply Albury:
- Surface sources - 93%
- Groundwater sources - 6%
- Mixed sources - 1%
Is the water hard in Albury
While rainwater itself is relatively soft, water hardness can change through the water cycle. As rainwater filters through rocks, it picks up minerals, such as magnesium and calcium. The more minerals the water picks up, the harder is your water considered.
The water hardness in Albury is higher than 201ppm, that means the water hardness in Albury is rated as hard water.
What does this mean?
The clean water supply to your home in Albury contains slightly elevated levels of minerals that cause hard water. hard water means your water is not as effective at cleaning dishes, glassware, clothes, or even your body. It also means an increased limescale build-up in your home appliances and it may affect the taste of your tap water.
Selectra recommends
You should add a water softener to the water in Albury.
- Baths, sinks, and toilets - Use an acidic sanitiser regularly (available in local shops) to clean susceptible surfaces in order to clear limescale deposits.
- Kettles - Don't completely fill your kettle with water. You can clean your kettle by half-filling and diluting two tablespoons of white vinegar, leaving it for four hours in order to loosen scale build-up. Rinse and repeat to remove scale.
- Dishwashers - Use the built-in water softener. Make sure you occasionally top it off with dishwasher salt in the right compartment.
Albury No Water
If you have no water in your Albury home, you will need to check if the issue is to do with your home plumbing or if the issue is within your neighbourhood in Albury.
If there is no water at your Albury home, do you only have no cold water or no hot water? If you still have cold water but no hot water, the issue will be with your home plumbing and not a problem affecting Albury.
If there is no cold water, not even a trickle, contact Affinity Water or Thames Water for advice. In this case you should try the following tips:
- Check for updates on the "In Your Area" sections of the Affinity Water or Thames Water website for any information explaining why you have no water.
- Examine the Twitter account of Affinity Water or Thames Water, they will often tweet updates when there's a problem.
- Ask your neighbours whether they have the same issue as you.
- Verify your stop tap and make sure it's open.
Albury water leak or flooding
Albury water problems can include anything from a burst water main or flooding, to a leak in your Albury home. This means it's very important you know what to do and who to contact regarding a water emergency.
If you notice a water leak or flooding outside your Albury property, you must do one of the following as soon as possible:
- Call Affinity Water or Thames Water regardless if the problem relates to wastewater or clean water.
- If you can access the internet from your location, navigate to the "report a leak" area of the Affinity Water or Thames Water website and complete the online form to report the issue.
Why does the water in Albury taste strange?
If you notice a change in taste or smell with your Albury water this could be because of one of the following reasons:
- Chlorination is a safe way to make sure the pipe network maintains high levels of hygiene throughout.
- Seasonal changes can infuse the Albury water with an earthy taste or smell.
- Plumbing can also contribute to the taste of your household water, adding rubbery, salty, or metallic hints to Albury water.
If you are unsure about your water's appearance, smell, or taste, you should get in touch with Affinity Water or Thames Water using the contact information above.
Internet in Albury GU5
The speed of your internet connection at your Albury home can vary depending on several factors such as:
- The type of connection (ADSL, Fibre, or Cable)
- Proximity of the local telephone exchange
- Location of the router in your home
- Using wi-fi or ethernet connection
- Which provider you have
Test the speed of your connection and see how it compares to the average connection speed for Albury with our quick and easy to use internet speed test tool.
Did you know that the average download speed in the UK is around 62.5Mbps?
| Albury Average Download Speed | Albury Average Upload Speed |
|---|---|
| 66.40 Mbps | 17.70 Mbps |
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The internet connection type you have can affect your download and upload speed in Albury. An FTTP is the fastest internet connection available in the UK however, at the time of writing, this is only available to 31.83% of households in the UK.
ADSL is the slowest type of connection, in parts of the UK that are more remote it's the only type of internet connection currently available.
Things to consider when searching for a broadband provider in Albury?
It's 2022, which means the internet is just as important as any other utility, maybe even more important. That means choosing an internet service provider could feel daunting. Worry not, we've listed the four important points to think about when searching for a broadband provider in Albury.
Availability
The first point to bear in mind before searching for a broadband provider in Albury is what's available. Whilst many homes in Albury can take advantage of fibre or 'superfast' broadband connections, customers who live in a rural location may have trouble getting fast broadband.
Although, homes that have been built in the last few years may already have access to ultrafast FTTH since developers often install the latest infrastructure when constructing new homes.
Type of connection
What kinds of internet connection are available in Albury?
- Fibre broadband
- This is the fastest type of connection you can get in Albury
- We can split fibre connections into two categories, they are called 'Superfast' and 'Full Fibre'
- Superfast broadband means the download speed of at least 24 Mbps.
- A Full Fibre connection comes with downloads speeds from 300 Mbps up to 1 Gbps.
- ADSL or ADSL2
- An internet connection that's provided via your phone line.
- Limited download speed of up to 24 Mbps.
- Available to the majority of Albury homes.
- Cable
- Speeds similar to, or faster than, fibre broadband.
- Available only via Virgin Media.
- Restricted availability in some parts of Albury.
- 4G/5G, Mobile, and Satellite Broadband
- Speed is dependant upon the mobile signal strength in Albury.
- Can be more expensive for heavy users without unlimited data.
- No special equipment required by tethering to your smartphone, although some of the mobile networks in the UK will not allow tethering.
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Albury broadband cost
Another important consideration is the price you pay for broadband in Albury. You will see many broadband providers are offering a cheap introductory offer for new customers, however you might find the rate suddenly goes up. You should always look in the terms and conditions of the deal before you commit to a internet service in Albury. There are some providers that will increase the price you pay before your contract has finished. For example, recently there was a BT price hike which will be felt by millions of BT customers.
Albury Broadband Reliability
The reliability of broadband in Albury also needs consideration, with many people working from home either full-time or part-time, having a reliable internet connection to stay in touch with work can be extremely important.
The times when we're not working we're watching movies online or gaming online that without a reliable internet connection for your Albury home is going to be important.
Albury broadband customer support
Finally, the customer service of your Albury broadband connection is really important. Hopefully you shouldn't have to contact the internet service provider you choose, but if you ever do need to speak to them a high level of customer support that deals with your query quickly and efficiently is a strong plus when you choose a broadband provider in Albury.
[YAML_telecoms_alldeals_intext_cta1]Broadband FAQ
Below we've answered some our the most common questions that customers in Albury have about broadband internet.
Broadband FAQs
Is the internet fast in Albury?
The average broadband speed in Albury is:
| Albury Average Download Speed | Albury Average Upload Speed |
|---|---|
| 66.40 Mbps | 17.70 Mbps |
What do ADSL, Superfast, FTTC, FTTH, and FTTP actually mean?
Put simply, this is the way of connecting to the internet.
- ADSL: Asymmetric digital subscriber line - this type of connection has speeds up to 24 Mbps. However, the further you are from the telephone exchange, the slower your connection will be.
- Superfast: This is fibre broadband that is at least 30 Mbps.
- FTTC: Fibre To The Cabinet - this is a fibre connection that is delivered to a green box on your street in Albury, from there it's connected to your home through your traditional copper wire telephone line.
- FTTP/FTTH: Fibre To The Premises/Home - This is a fibre broadband connection is connected with 100% fibre cables to your Albury property. That means it's the fastest and most reliable type of broadband fibre internet. At the time of writing, 31.83% of houses in the UK .
What broadband speed do I need?
That would depend on what kind of internet user you are. Take a look at this table to find out the kind of broadband speed you should pick when signing up for broadband in Albury.
| Usual Internet habits | Recommended Broadband Speed | Up to 2 devices |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 2 devices | Social media, light streaming, email, working from home (WFH), etc | 10-25 Mbps Broadband |
| 3-5 devices | AAll of the above, online gaming and 4K streaming | 50-100 Mbps Broadband |
| Over 5 devices | All the above and large file transfers or streaming your own video content on the web | 100+ Mbps Broadband |
What's the difference between 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz WiFi?
2.4ghz and 5ghz are the two radio frequencies internet routers use to transmit the data between your devices. 2.4Ghz WiFi travels further, but transmit data at slower speeds. 5Ghz WiFi signals have a smaller radius, but will transmit the data between devices at faster rates.
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What's the telephone dialling code of Albury
The landline area code, sometimes called the dialling code, for Albury is 01483. When making a call to someone in Albury, and you are in a different area, you should add 01483 before the number you're trying to call.
How much does an 01483 Albury call cost?
If calls are included with your mobile or landline tariff, the phone call will probably be included as part of your tariff. Without an inclusive calls plan, you can expect to pay around 10p per minute, plus an additional call set-up charge.
If you are uncertain whether you have inclusive calls, we recommend getting in touch with your provider before making the call to avoid additional charges on your next phone bill.
How many different area codes are there in the UK? There are 645 area codes in the UK incl. Northern Ireland. UK area codes can be three, four, or five digits long.
Electricity and Gas in Albury
Residents in Albury are able to choose their gas and electricity provider, but regardless of the supplier they are billed by, the gas and electricity is going to be supplied and maintained by the regional network operator.
These network operators are known as Distribution Network operators (DNOs) and these are the companies that own, operates and maintains the infrastructure that supplies your Albury home to the gas network and electricity grid.
In many cases you won't need to contact the Albury distribution network operator, but should you ever need to, you can quickly find out which DNO covers Albury right here.
You can also read more about what a Distribution Network Operator (DNO) does in our Distribution Network Operator guide
Electricity Distribution Network Operator for Albury
The electricity distribution network operator for Albury is UK Power Networks - South East England. You can find the UK Power Networks - South East England contact details in the table below:
| UK Power Networks - South East England Contact Information | |
|---|---|
| General Enquiries | 0800 028 4587 |
| Emergencies | 0800 316 3105 |
| [email protected] | |
| Website | https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/ |
| Address | 237 Southwark Bridge Road London |
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The UK has six electricity distribution network operators:
- Electricity North West
- Northern Powergrid
- SSE Networks
- SP Energy Networks
- UK Power Networks
- Western Power Distribution
Power Generation near Albury
There are no power plants within a 10 mile radius of Albury.
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Fossil Fuels
In 2021, a total of 47.4% of the UK’s electricity was generated by burning fossil fuels. The majority of which was natural gas (42%) and coal (2.7%). Additionally, a small amount was produced from other kinds of fossil fuels (2.7%). The amount of electricity generated from fossil fuels varies each year.
Nuclear Power
Nuclear power accounted for 16.1% of electricity generation in 2021, and in the coming years this is expected to reduce as the UK’s nuclear power stations are scheduled for closure, only one will still be generating energy 2035. However, we can expect new nuclear reactors to be built such as Hinkley Point C which is under construction.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy accounted for 40.3% of electricity in 2021, an increase from 29% in 2018. Renewable fuel is generated from souces such as hydro, solar, wind, and biomass. This is expected to continue rising as the UK aims to meet its net-zero targets.
Towns and Cities Near Albury
If you've ever wondered which municipalities are nearby Albury, we've found the closest five municipalities to Albury.
| Municipality | Distance from Albury |
|---|---|
| Shere | - |
| Chilworth | 3.1 miles |
| Jacobs Well | 3.1 miles |
| Shalford | 3.1 miles |