Your Complete Guide to Utilities in Grays

Are you moving and want to know more about Grays? Our utilities guide to Grays will explain in detail everything you need to know about broadband, area codes, power generation and energy distributors, and Grays water and sewerage. Keep reading to learn everything about utilities in Grays.

About Grays, Essex

Grays RM17 has a population of 66,843 and is located in the county of Essex. Essex has a population of 1,832,752 people.

Who supplies my water in Grays?

Grays water services are supplied by Anglian Water. In the table below are the contact numbers for Anglian Water, and Essex & Suffolk Water:

How to reach your water providers in Grays

Calling a phone number for Anglian Water or Essex & Suffolk Water is one of many contact methods to deal with your Grays water problems.

Anglian Water phone numbers

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

Essex & Suffolk Water phone numbers

In the table below we have listed the main phone numbers for Essex & Suffolk Water general enquiries and emergencies.

Write to Anglian Water or Essex & Suffolk Water

You can also get in touch with Anglian Water or Essex & Suffolk Water, you have the choice of posting a letter or sending an email. You can even send your message through the Anglian Water or Essex & Suffolk Water website.

Anglian Water

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

Customers that would rather email Anglian Water, you can use the email address below:

Essex & Suffolk Water

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

Customers that would rather email Essex & Suffolk Water, you can use the email address below:

Price of water in Grays

Water rates in Grays will vary depending on if your home has a water meter or not. You can easily check if your Grays water rates are metered or not by checking your water bill or by speaking to the supplier. Homes with metered Grays water rates will have a meter number listed on their water bills.

Metered Customers in Grays

Customers who have a water meter installed at their Grays 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 Anglian Water or Essex & Suffolk Water. Whilst the variable charges are for the consumption at your Grays home.

Unmetered Customers in Grays

Customers without a meter at their Grays home have an annual charge for their water consumption. This charge is fixed, meaning your water bill will stay the same regardless of how much water consumed at your Grays home.

Water rates for unmetered customers in Grays is based on the rateable value of your home. The rateable value of your Grays water rates will have been 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 you are single, or have a small family, installing a water meter at your Grays might work out cheaper.

Customers with large households are unlikely to see any savings by getting a water meter installed.

How much is the average water bill in Grays?

The average water bill Grays residents are charged varies between water suppliers. You can see in the table below the average water bill by supplier:

How do I pay my Grays water bill?

First, you must sign up and register with Anglian Water or Essex & Suffolk Water. After you've registered with Anglian Water or Essex & Suffolk 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

You may be able to choose how often you pay your Grays bill. Whilst some customers prefer to make a single annual payment, other customers would prefer quarterly, monthly, or even weekly payments instead. After you've set up your Anglian Water or Essex & Suffolk 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 Grays?

Unfortunately, your water suppliers are fixed and depend on the catchment area based on your postcode. As a customer in Grays RM17, your water suppliers are Anglian Water and Essex & Suffolk 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.

Grays Water Frequently Asked Questions

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

Broadband in Grays RM17

The broadband speed you get at your Grays home can vary depending on several factors such as:

• Fibre availability
• Distance from the telephone exchange
• Placement of your router
• If you are connected with ethernet or wi-fi
• Which provider you have

Test your internet speed and see if it matches the average broadband speed for Grays with our fast and simple speed test.

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

The type of internet connection you have can have an effect on the speed you get in Grays. An FTTP is the best kind of broadband connection available in the UK at the time of writing, this has been rolled out to 31.83% of homes in the UK.

ADSL internet connections are the slowest, but for some customers in remote areas it's the only type of internet connection available.

What should you consider when choosing an internet provider in Grays?

It's 2022, which means the internet is just as important as any other utility, perhaps more important. That means choosing an internet service provider could feel daunting. To ease the pressure, let's take a look at the top four points worth considering before choosing an internet provider in Grays.

Availability

The first point to bear in mind before choosing an internet provider in Grays is what's available. Most homes in Grays should be able to enjoy fibre or 'superfast' connections, those living in rural homes may have limited access to the type of connection.

That being said, homes that have been built recently may already have access to ultrafast FTTH as developers often tend to install the latest infrastructure when constructing new homes.

Type of connection

How can I connect to the internet in Grays?

• Fibre broadband
• This is fastest connection that's currently available in Grays
• There are two categories of fibre broadband connections, they are called 'Superfast' and 'Full Fibre'
• Superfast broadband means the download speed of 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 older type of internet connection that is delivered through your traditional telephone line.
• Has a slower download speed of up to 24 Mbps.
• Available to 99.9% of Grays homes.
• Cable
• A similar or even faster download speed than fibre broadband.
• Available only via Virgin Media.
• Availability can be limited in some parts of Grays.
• 4G/5G, Mobile, and Satellite Broadband
• Speed is dependant upon the mobile signal strength in Grays.
• Can be more expensive for heavy users without unlimited data.
• Can tether to your smartphone without special equipment, however there are some mobile networks that restrict tethered connections.

Grays broadband value for money

Another important consideration is the monthly cost of broadband in Grays. There are many providers offering a low cost deal for new customers, however you might find the rate suddenly goes up. It's important to read the small print of the offer before you sign up to a internet connection in Grays. Some providers may even increase the price during the initial contract period. We reported recently on the BT price hike which affects millions of BT customers.

Grays Broadband Reliability

The reliability of broadband in Grays should also be considered, with many of us working from home full-time or just a few days per week, we need to have a reliable internet connection to do your work is a priority.

Then in our freetime we're watching movies online or gaming online meaning without an internet connection that's reliable at your Grays home will be an important thing to consider.

Grays broadband technical support

Finally, the technical support for your Grays broadband connection is really important. You might never need to get in touch with your internet service provider, however, if you have an issue and need to get in touch with them a high level of customer support that deals with your query quickly and efficiently should be considered when making a decision for a broadband internet provider in Grays.

Broadband FAQ

Our FAQ contains the answers to the most asked questions from customers in Grays have about their internet connection.

What's the landline area code in Grays

The telephone dialling code, sometimes called the area code, for Grays is 01806. If you call someone in Grays, and you are not in the same area, you will need to add 01806 before the number you're trying to call.

How much does an 01806 Grays call cost?

If you have calls included with your landline or mobile, the cost of the call will probably be included in that tariff. Without an inclusive calls plan, you can expect to pay around 10p per minute, plus the call set-up charge.

If you don't know whether you have a plan that includes calls, we recommend getting in touch with your provider before making the call to avoid additional charges on your next phone bill.

How many telephone area codes are there in the UK? There's a total of 645 telephone area codes in the UK. Area codes in the UK can be three, four, or five digits long.

Gas and Electricity Supply in Grays

Residents of Grays can choose their gas and electricity provider, but whichever supplier they are with, the gas and electricity is going to be distributed and taken care of by the local network operator.

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

More often than not you won't need to speak to the Grays distribution network operator, but if you do, you can find the distribution network operator for Grays in this section.

You can find out more information about what a Distribution Network Operator (DNO) does in our Distribution Network Operator guide

Electricity Distribution Network Operator in Grays

The electricity distribution network operator for Grays is UK Power Networks - Eastern England. You can find the UK Power Networks - Eastern England 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 Grays

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

Fossil Fuels

In 2021, 47.4% of the UK’s total electricity production was by burning fossil fuels. This was mostly in the form of natural gas (42%) and coal (2.7%). In addition, a small amount was produced from fossil fuels from other sources (2.7%). The electricity produced from fossil fuels does change each year.

Nuclear Power

16.1% of electricity was generated by nuclear reactors in 2021, and in the coming years this is expected 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 being built.

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy generated 40.3% of electricity in 2021, that's up from 29% in 2018. Renewable sources can include solar, wind, hydro, and biomass. This is expected to continue rising as the UK strives to hit its net-zero targets.

Towns and Cities Near Grays

If you've ever wondered which municipalities are within reach of Grays, in the below table you will find the five nearest towns and cities to Grays.