Your Complete Guide to Utilities in Bracknell

If you just moved and have some questions about Bracknell? Our utilities guide to Bracknell is going to provide you with everything you need to know about broadband, area codes, power generation and energy distributors, and Bracknell water and sewerage. Keep reading to learn everything about utilities in Bracknell.

About Bracknell, Berkshire

Bracknell RG12 has a population of 77,256 and is located in the county of Berkshire. Berkshire has a population of 915,157 people.

Who supplies my water in Bracknell?

Bracknell water services are provided by Affinity Water. Here are the main contact numbers for Affinity Water, South East Water, and Thames Water:

How to get in touch with the water suppliers in Bracknell

Ringing a contact number for Affinity Water, South East Water or Thames Water is one of many options to deal with your Bracknell water issues.

Affinity Water contact numbers

In the table below you will find the contact numbers for Affinity Water general enquiries and emergencies.

South East Water contact numbers

In the table below you will find the contact numbers for South East Water general enquiries and emergencies.

Thames Water contact numbers

In the table below you will find the contact numbers for Thames Water general enquiries and emergencies.

Ringing a contact number for Affinity Water, South East Water, Thames Water, or is one of many options to deal with your Bracknell water issues.

Write to Affinity Water, South East Water or Thames Water

You can also write to Affinity Water, South East Water or Thames Water, by composing a letter or sending an email. You can even send your message through the Affinity Water, South East Water or Thames Water website.

Affinity Water

If you prefer to send a letter to Affinity Water can do so by writing to the Affinity Water address below:

South East Water

If you prefer to send a letter to South East Water can do so by writing to the South East Water address below:

Thames Water

If you prefer to send a letter to Thames Water can do so by writing to the Thames Water address below:

If you want to email Thames Water, you must use the following email address:

Cost of water in Bracknell

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

Metered Customers in Bracknell

Customers with a water meter at their Bracknell house will pay an annual fixed charge, plus an additional charge for each cubic meter (m3) that is consumed. The fixed charge is to cover the essential running costs of Affinity Water, South East Water, or Thames Water. While the variable charges cover the usage at your Bracknell home.

Unmetered Customers in Bracknell

Customers that don't have a water meter at their Bracknell home will pay 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 Bracknell home.

Water rates for unmetered customers in Bracknell is based on the rateable value of your home. The rateable value of your Bracknell 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? You need to consider how much water you consume per year. If your family is small, or you don't live with others, getting a water meter for your Bracknell could be cheaper.

Customers with bigger families that use more water will probably not benefit by having a meter installed.

How much is the average water bill in Bracknell?

The average water bill Bracknell residents are billed will depend on which water company supplies your home. You can see in the table below the average water bill by supplier:

How do I pay my Bracknell water bill?

First of all, you will need to register with Affinity Water, South East Water, or Thames Water. After you register your details with Affinity Water, South East Water, or Thames 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 Bracknell bill. Whilst some customers prefer to make a single annual payment, other customers might want to settle for quarterly, monthly, or even weekly payments instead. As soon as you've set up your Affinity Water, South East 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 Bracknell?

Unfortunately, your water suppliers are fixed and depend on the catchment area based on your postcode. As a customer in Bracknell RG12, your water suppliers are Affinity Water, South East 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.

Bracknell Water Frequently Asked Questions

Below we have answered the most commonly asked questions that customers in Bracknell have about their water supply.

Internet in Bracknell RG12

The speed of your internet connection at your Bracknell home is dependant upon 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
• If you're using wi-fi or ethernet
• Your broadband provider

Test your internet speed and see if it matches the average internet speed in Bracknell 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?

The way you choose to connect to the internet can have an effect on the speed you get in Bracknell. An FTTP is the fastest internet connection available in the UK at the time of writing, this has been rolled out to 31.83% of UK households.

The slowest way to access the internet is ADSL, in some remote parts of the UK it is the only means of connection available.

Things to consider when choosing an internet provider in Bracknell?

These days, the internet is as important as other essential utilities, maybe even more important. Which means picking a reliable provider for your internet can be unnerving. To ease the pressure, let's take a look at the top four points that you should consider when choosing an internet provider in Bracknell.

Availability

The first thing you need to think about whilst choosing an internet provider in Bracknell is the availability. Most homes in Bracknell can take advantage of superfast' or fibre connections, people outside a built-up area may have trouble getting fast broadband.

However, new builds and properties that have been constructed in the last few years should be able to enjoy access to the FTTH since developers often install the latest networks when building new homes.

Type of connection

What kinds of internet connection are available in Bracknell?

• Fibre broadband
• This is the fastest type of connection you can get in Bracknell
• There are two categories of fibre broadband connections, they are called 'Superfast' and 'Full Fibre'
• Superfast broadband means the download speed that's at least 24 Mbps.
• A Full Fibre broadband internet connection can currently reach speeds from 300 Mbps up to 1 Gbps.
• ADSL or ADSL2
• An internet connection that's delivered through a standard telephone line.
• Slower speeds up to 24 Mbps.
• High availability with for 99.9% of Bracknell homes.
• Cable
• Speeds similar to, or faster than, fibre broadband.
• Only available with Virgin Media.
• Restricted availability in some parts of Bracknell.
• 4G/5G, Mobile, and Satellite Broadband
• Speed is dependant upon the mobile signal strength in Bracknell.
• Could prove more expensive unless you have an unlimited data tariff.
• You don't need a router if you tether the connection to your smartphone, though some mobile networks do not allow tethering.

Bracknell broadband value for money

You also need to consider the monthly cost of broadband in Bracknell. You will see many broadband providers are offering a cheap introductory offer for new customers, but the price is often for a limited period. It's important to read the small print of the offer when you sign up for a internet service in Bracknell. 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 that has affected millions of customers.

Bracknell Broadband Reliability

How reliable the broadband is in Bracknell must also be considered, with many of us working from home either full-time or part-time, we need to have a reliable internet connection to keep up to date with work your work is really important.

When we're relaxing we're streaming movies or playing online games with friends meaning without an internet connection that's reliable at your Bracknell home is going to be important.

Bracknell broadband technical support

Lastly, the customer service of your Bracknell internet connection is of utmost importance. You might never need to get in touch with your internet service provider, but should the need to contact them arises a provider with excellent customer service that is able to solve your issue in a fast and efficient manner should be considered when you choose a broadband provider in Bracknell.

Broadband FAQ

In the FAQ below, we've answered the frequently asked questions that customers in Bracknell ask about their broadband.

What's the telephone dialling code of Bracknell

The telephone dialling code, sometimes called the area code, for Bracknell is 01344. If you're calling somebody in Bracknell, and you're located in a different region, you must add 01344 to the number you're calling.

How much does an 01344 Bracknell call cost?

If you have calls included with your mobile or landline tariff, the cost of the call is likely to be included as part of your tariff. If you don't have an included calls tariff, it should cost in the region of 10p per minute, plus the call set-up charge.

If you don't know whether you have calls included in your tariff, you should ask your provider before calling to avoid unexpected charges on your bill.

How many telephone 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.

Gas and Electricity in Bracknell

Residents in Bracknell are free to choose their gas and electricity supplier, but regardless of the supplier they are billed by, the electricity and gas will always be supplied and maintained by the regional network operator.

We call them Distribution Network operators (DNOs) and these are the companies that own, operates and maintains the infrastructure that supplies your Bracknell home to the gas and electricity networks.

More often than not you won't need to speak to the Bracknell distribution network operator, but should you ever need to, you can easily find out which DNO is responsible for Bracknell below.

Learn more about what a Distribution Network Operator (DNO) does in our Distribution Network Operator guide

Electricity Distribution Network Operator for Bracknell

The electricity distribution network operator for Bracknell is Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks - Central Southern England. You can find the Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks - Central Southern England contact details in the table below:

There are six electricity distribution network operators in the UK:

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 Bracknell

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

Fossil Fuels

In 2021, fossil fuels accounted for 47.4% of the UK’s electricity generation. This came mostly from natural gas (42%) and coal (2.7%). In addition, a tiny amount was generated with fossil fuels from other sources (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, 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, new nuclear reactors are being planned 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 wind, solar, hydro, and biomass. We can expect to see this continue increasing as the UK is focussed on meeting its net-zero targets.

Municipalities Near Bracknell

You might be wondering which municipalities are within reach of Bracknell, in the below table you will find the five closest municipalities to Bracknell.