Your Complete Guide to Utilities in Barrow

Are you moving and want to know more about Barrow? Our utilities guide to Barrow will help you to find out everything there is to know about broadband, area codes, power generation and energy distributors, and Barrow water and sewerage. Keep reading to learn everything about utilities in Barrow.

About Barrow, Lancashire

Barrow BB7 has a population of 1,288 and is located in the county of Lancashire. Lancashire has a population of 1,498,300 people.

Who supplies my water in Barrow?

Barrow water utilities are supplied by United Utilities. Below are the main phone numbers for United Utilities, and Yorkshire Water:

How to reach your water providers in Barrow

Ringing a contact number for United Utilities or Yorkshire Water is one of many contact methods to deal with your Barrow water account.

United Utilities telephone numbers

In the table below we have listed the main telephone numbers for United Utilities general enquiries and emergencies.

Yorkshire Water telephone numbers

In the table below we have listed the main telephone numbers for Yorkshire Water general enquiries and emergencies.

Write to United Utilities or Yorkshire Water

Additionally, you can communicate with United Utilities or Yorkshire Water, you have the choice of posting a letter or sending an email. You can also submit your request on the United Utilities or Yorkshire Water website.

United Utilities

Customer that want to post a letter to United Utilities can do so by writing to the United Utilities address below:

Yorkshire Water

Customer that want to post a letter to Yorkshire Water can do so by writing to the Yorkshire Water address below:

Price of water in Barrow

Water rates in Barrow depend on whether your home has a water meter or not. You can easily find out whether your Barrow water rates are metered or not by looking at a recent water bill or by getting in touch with the supplier. Homes with metered Barrow water rates will have a meter number listed on their water bills.

Metered Customers in Barrow

Customers that have a water meter at their Barrow home will pay a fixed annual charge, plus a charge for each cubic meter (m3) that's used. The fixed charge is to cover the essential running costs of United Utilities or Yorkshire Water. While the variable charges cover the usage at your Barrow home.

Unmetered Customers in Barrow

Customers who don't have a meter at their Barrow home have an annual charge for their water consumption. This charge is fixed, meaning you'll pay the same regardless of how much water consumed at your Barrow home.

As an unmetered customer, the rate you pay for water in Barrow is going to be based on the rateable value of your home. The rateable value of your Barrow water prices were determined by the local council in the 90s and will probably not have changed since then.

Should I get a water meter installed? That depends on how much water you consume. If you have a small family, or live alone, having a water meter installed at your Barrow could be cheaper.

Customers with big families are probably not going to save money by having a meter installed.

How much is the average water bill in Barrow?

The average water bill Barrow residents are billed varies between water suppliers. In the table below, you will see how much each supplier charges:

How do I pay my Barrow water bill?

You will first need to register with United Utilities or Yorkshire Water. After you've registered with United Utilities or Yorkshire Water, you can decide how you would like to pay your bill, such as:

• Direct Debit
• Online payments
• Pay over the phone
• Bank transfer
• Payment by cheque
• Payment card

You may be able to choose how often you pay your Barrow bill. Whilst some customers prefer to make a single annual payment, other customers would prefer quarterly, monthly, or even weekly payments instead. When you set up your United Utilities or Yorkshire Water account, you will be able to choose how often you recieve your water bill and how to pay for it.

Can I switch the water supplier in Barrow?

Unfortunately, your water suppliers are fixed and depend on the catchment area based on your postcode. As a customer in Barrow BB7, your water suppliers are United Utilities and Yorkshire 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.

Barrow Water Frequently Asked Questions

Below we have answered some common questions that customers in Barrow have about their water supply.

Broadband Speed in Barrow BB7

The broadband speed you get at your Barrow home is dependant upon several factors such as:

• Fibre availability
• Distance from the telephone exchange
• Where you've placed your router
• If you are connected with ethernet or wi-fi
• Your internet service provider or ISP

Test your internet speed and see if it matches the average broadband speed for Barrow with our easy to use broadband speed test tool.

Did you know that the average download speed in the UK is around 62.5Mbps?

The internet connection type you have can affect your download and upload speed in Barrow. An FTTP is currently the fastest broadband connection you can get in the UK and is available to 31.83% of households in the UK.

ADSL internet connections are the slowest, in some remote parts of the UK it's the only type of internet connection available.

What to look for when searching for a broadband provider in Barrow?

In 2022, the internet is about as important as any other utility, perhaps more important. So picking the right internet provider could feel daunting. Worry not, we've listed the four important points that you should consider when searching for a broadband provider in Barrow.

Availability

The first thing to consider before searching for a broadband provider in Barrow is the availability. Whilst many homes in Barrow can take advantage of superfast' or fibre connections, customers who live in a rural location may have limited access to the type of connection.

That being said, homes that have been built recently should be able to enjoy access to the FTTH because property developers will often choose to install the latest infrastructure when constructing new homes.

Type of connection

What kinds of internet connection are available in Barrow?

• Fibre broadband
• This is fastest connection that's currently available in Barrow
• We can split fibre connections into two categories, we call them 'Superfast' and 'Full Fibre'
• Superfast broadband means the download speed that's at least 24 Mbps.
• A Full Fibre broadband internet connection comes with downloads speeds from 300 Mbps up to 1 Gbps.
• ADSL or ADSL2
• An older type of connection that is provided via your phone line.
• Slower speeds up to 24 Mbps.
• Available to the majority of Barrow homes.
• Cable
• Speeds similar to, or faster than, fibre broadband.
• Available only via Virgin Media.
• Restricted availability in some parts of Barrow.
• 4G/5G, Mobile, and Satellite Broadband
• Speed depends on strength of the mobile coverage in Barrow.
• Can be more expensive for heavy users without unlimited data.
• You don't need a router if you tether the connection to your smartphone, however there are some mobile networks that restrict tethered connections.

Barrow broadband price

You also need to consider the monthly cost of broadband in Barrow. It's easy to find a broadband provider that's offering a low cost deal for new customers, but the price is often for a limited period. It's important to read the small print of the offer before you sign up to a broadband connection in Barrow. Some providers may even increase the price during the initial contract period. In the news recently, there was a BT price hike which affects millions of BT customers.

Barrow Broadband Reliability

The reliability of the broadband connection is in Barrow also needs consideration, with many people working from home on a part-time or full-time basis, knowing you have a reliable broadband connection to stay in touch with work is a priority.

When we're relaxing we're watching movies online or gaming online meaning without an internet connection that's reliable at your Barrow home is something to think about.

Barrow broadband customer support

Our final tip, the technical support for your Barrow broadband internet is really important. Hopefully you shouldn't have to contact the internet service provider you choose, but should the need to contact them arises then having solid customer service that deals with your query in a fast and efficient manner is a strong plus when you choose a broadband provider in Barrow.

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Broadband FAQ

In the FAQ below, we've answered the frequently asked questions that customers in Barrow have about broadband internet.

What's the telephone area code for Barrow

The telephone area code, sometimes called the landline dialling code, for Barrow is 01254. When making a call to someone in Barrow, and you are not in the same area, you must add 01254 before the number you're trying to call.

How much does an 01254 Barrow call cost?

If you have calls included with your landline or mobile tariff, the phone call should be included in that tariff. If calls are not included with your tariff, you can expect to pay around 10p per minute, plus an additional call set-up charge.

If you are uncertain whether you have calls included in your tariff, please check with your provider before making the call to avoid unexpected charges on your bill.

How many different area codes are there in the UK? There are 645 area codes in the UK incl. Northern Ireland. They are a mix of three, four, or five digits long.

Electricity and Gas in Barrow

Residents of Barrow can choose their gas and electricity supplier, but regardless of which supplier they choose, the gas and electricity is going to be supplied and maintained by the local network operator.

These network operators are known as Distribution Network operators (DNOs) and it is these companies that own, operates and maintains the infrastructure that supplies your Barrow home to the gas and electricity networks.

More often than not you won't need to contact the Barrow distribution network operator, but should the need arise, you can quickly find out which DNO covers Barrow below.

You can also read more about what a Distribution Network Operator (DNO) does in our Distribution Network Operator guide

Electricity Distribution Network Operator for Barrow

The electricity distribution network operator for Barrow is Electricity North West. You can find the Electricity North West contact details in the table below:

The UK has six electricity distribution network operators:

1. Electricity North West
2. Northern Powergrid
3. SSE Networks
4. SP Energy Networks
5. UK Power Networks
6. Western Power Distribution

Power Generation near Barrow

There are no power plants within a 10 mile radius of Barrow.

Fossil Fuels

In 2021, fossil fuels accounted for 47.4% of the UK’s electricity generation. This was mostly in the form of natural gas (42%) and coal (2.7%). Furthermore, a tiny amount was generated with fossil fuels from other sources (2.7%). The amount of electricity produced from fossil fuels changes each year.

Nuclear Power

16.1% of electricity was generated by nuclear reactors in 2021, in the next few years we can expect this to reduce as the UK’s nuclear power stations begin to close, by 2035 there will only one nuclear power plant still producing energy. However, there are plans to build new nuclear reactors such as Hinkley Point C which is currently under construction.

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy generated 40.3% of electricity in 2021, that's up from 29% in 2018. Renewable fuel sources include solar, wind, hydro, and biomass. This will conmtinue to rise as the UK aims to meet its net-zero targets.

Municipalities Close By Barrow

If you've ever wondered which municipalities are nearby Barrow, we've found the five closest municipalities to Barrow.

• Clitheroe
• Chatburn
• Dunsop Bridge
• Gisburn
• Hurst Green