A Complete Guide to Utilities in Leigh-on-Sea

Are you moving and want to know more about Leigh-on-Sea? Our utilities guide to Leigh-on-Sea is going to provide you with everything there is to know about broadband, area codes, power generation and energy distributors, and Leigh-on-Sea water and sewerage. Keep reading to learn everything about utilities in Leigh-on-Sea.

About Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

Leigh-on-Sea SS9 has a population of 22,509 and is located in the county of Essex. Essex has a population of 1,832,752 people.

Who supplies my water in Leigh-on-Sea?

Leigh-on-Sea water utilities are supplied by Anglian Water. Below are the main phone numbers for Anglian Water, and Essex & Suffolk Water:

Getting in touch with your water suppliers for Leigh-on-Sea

Calling a phone number for Anglian Water or Essex & Suffolk Water is one of many contact methods to deal with your Leigh-on-Sea water issues.

Anglian Water phone numbers

Below, you can find the principal phone numbers for Anglian Water general enquiries and emergencies.

Essex & Suffolk Water phone numbers

Below, you can find the principal phone numbers for Essex & Suffolk Water general enquiries and emergencies.

Write to Anglian Water or Essex & Suffolk Water

You can also write to Anglian Water or Essex & Suffolk Water, by composing a letter or sending an email. You can even send your message through the Anglian Water or Essex & Suffolk Water website.

Anglian Water

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

If you want to email Anglian Water, you should use the following email address:

Essex & Suffolk Water

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

If you want to email Essex & Suffolk Water, you should use the following email address:

Cost of water in Leigh-on-Sea

Water rates in Leigh-on-Sea are based on if your home has a water meter or not. You can easily find out whether your Leigh-on-Sea water rates are metered or unmetered rates by checking your water bill or by contacting your supplier. Homes with metered Leigh-on-Sea water rates will have a meter number listed on their water bills.

Metered Customers in Leigh-on-Sea

Customers who have a water meter installed at their Leigh-on-Sea property will pay an annual charge that is fixed, 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 cover the consumption at your Leigh-on-Sea home.

Unmetered Customers in Leigh-on-Sea

Customers that don't have a water meter at their Leigh-on-Sea home have an annual charge for their water consumption. This charge is fixed, this means you will pay the same amount regardless of how much water consumed at your Leigh-on-Sea home.

The rate unmetered customers pay for water in Leigh-on-Sea will be based on the rateable value of your home. The rateable value of your Leigh-on-Sea water prices were determined by the local council in the 90s and are unlikey to 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, getting a water meter for your Leigh-on-Sea may save you money.

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

How much is the average water bill in Leigh-on-Sea?

The average water bill Leigh-on-Sea residents are being charged will depend on which water company supplies your home. The table below shows the average water bill by supplier:

How do I pay my Leigh-on-Sea water bill?

You will first need to register with Anglian Water or Essex & Suffolk Water. Once you've registered an account with Anglian Water or Essex & Suffolk Water, you will be offered a choice of payment options 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 Leigh-on-Sea bill. Whilst some customers would prefer to pay annually, other customers might want to settle for quarterly, monthly, or even weekly payments instead. When you set up your Anglian Water or Essex & Suffolk Water account, you will be able to choose your preferred payment method and frequency.

Can I switch the water supplier in Leigh-on-Sea?

Unfortunately, your water suppliers are fixed and depend on the catchment area based on your postcode. As a customer in Leigh-on-Sea SS9, 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.

Leigh-on-Sea Water Frequently Asked Questions

Below we have answers to the most frequently asked questions that customers in Leigh-on-Sea have about their water supply.

Broadband Speed in Leigh-on-Sea SS9

The speed of your broadband connection at your Leigh-on-Sea home depends on several factors such as:

• Availability of fibre
• How far from the telephone exchange you are
• Location of the router in your home
• Using wi-fi or ethernet connection
• Which provider you have

Test your internet speed and see how it compares to the average internet speed in Leigh-on-Sea 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 the speed you get at your home in Leigh-on-Sea. An FTTP is currently the fastest broadband connection you can get in the UK however, at the time of writing, this is only available to 31.83% of homes in the UK.

The slowest way to access the internet is ADSL, but for some customers in remote areas it's the only type of internet connection available.

Things to consider when searching for a broadband provider in Leigh-on-Sea?

It's 2022, which means the internet is just as important as any other utility, some people might consider it the most important. Which means picking a reliable provider for your internet can be unnerving. To ease the pressure, we've listed the four important points that you should consider when searching for a broadband provider in Leigh-on-Sea.

Availability

The first thing to consider whilst searching for a broadband provider in Leigh-on-Sea is the issue of availability. Whilst many homes in Leigh-on-Sea should have access to fibre or 'superfast' broadband connections, those living in rural homes could face issues getting access to the fastest internet.

That being said, homes that have been built recently will likely have be able to get ultrafast FTTH since developers often install the latest infrastructure when constructing new homes.

Type of connection

What are the different types of connection in Leigh-on-Sea?

• Fibre broadband
• This is fastest connection that's currently available in Leigh-on-Sea
• Fibre broadband is split into two categories, they are known as 'Superfast' and 'Full Fibre'
• Superfast broadband means the download speed that's at least 24 Mbps.
• A Full Fibre 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 a standard telephone line.
• Limited download speed of up to 24 Mbps.
• Available to the majority of Leigh-on-Sea homes.
• Cable
• A similar or even faster download speed than fibre broadband.
• Available only via Virgin Media.
• Limited availability in some parts of Leigh-on-Sea.
• 4G/5G, Mobile, and Satellite Broadband
• Speed is dependant upon the mobile signal strength in Leigh-on-Sea.
• Might work out more expensive without an unlimited data plan.
• No special equipment required by tethering to your smartphone, though some mobile networks do not allow tethering.

Leigh-on-Sea broadband cost

You also need to consider the monthly cost of broadband in Leigh-on-Sea. It's easy to find a broadband provider that's offering a low priced offer especially for new customers, but the price can quickly increase. It's important to read the terms and conditions of the deal when you sign up for a broadband connection in Leigh-on-Sea. Some providers will raise the price even whilst you're in contract. For example, recently there was a BT price hike which will be felt by millions of BT customers.

Leigh-on-Sea Broadband Reliability

The reliability of broadband in Leigh-on-Sea also needs consideration, with so many people that work from home on a part-time or full-time basis, having a reliable internet connection to do your work is really important.

Then in our freetime we're watching movies online or gaming online meaning without an internet connection that's reliable at your Leigh-on-Sea home is going to be important.

Leigh-on-Sea broadband customer support

Finally, the customer support of your Leigh-on-Sea internet connection is of utmost importance. You might never need to contact the internet service provider you choose, but should the need to contact them arises then having solid customer service that is able to solve your issue efficiently and quickly is a strong plus when selecting an internet provider in Leigh-on-Sea.

Broadband FAQ

Below we've answered some our the most common questions that customers in Leigh-on-Sea have about their internet connection.

What's the telephone area code for Leigh-on-Sea

The landline area code, sometimes called the dialling code, for Leigh-on-Sea is 01806. If you call someone in Leigh-on-Sea, and you're located in a different region, you will need to add 01806 before the number you're trying to call.

How much does an 01806 Leigh-on-Sea call cost?

If you have calls included with your mobile or landline tariff, the phone call will probably be included with 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 are uncertain whether you have calls included in your tariff, please check with your provider before calling so you don't find unexpected charges on your telephone bill.

How many different area codes are there in the UK? Including Northern Ireland, The UK has 645 area codes. UK area codes can be three, four, or five digits long.

Gas and Electricity Supply in Leigh-on-Sea

People living in Leigh-on-Sea can choose their own supplier for gas and electricity, but regardless of the supplier they are billed by, the gas and electricity is going to be maintained and supplied by the local network operator.

These network operators are officially called Distribution Network operators (DNOs) and they are the company that own, operates and maintains the infrastructure that supplies your Leigh-on-Sea home to the gas and electricity networks.

In many cases you won't need to speak to the Leigh-on-Sea distribution network operator, but if you do, you can easily find out which DNO is responsible for Leigh-on-Sea 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 in Leigh-on-Sea

The electricity distribution network operator for Leigh-on-Sea 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 Leigh-on-Sea

There are no power plants within a 10 mile radius of Leigh-on-Sea.

Fossil Fuels

In 2021, a total of 47.4% of the UK’s electricity was generated by burning fossil fuels. This came mostly from natural gas (42%) and coal (2.7%). Additionally, 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 the UK's electricity came from nuclear reactors in 2021, this is expected to reduce in the next few years as the UK’s nuclear power stations begin to close, only one will still be generating energy 2035. However, new nuclear reactors are being planned such as Hinkley Point C which is currently under construction.

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy produced 40.3% of electricity in 2021, which is up 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.

Municipalities Near Leigh-on-Sea

You might be wondering which municipalities are within reach of Leigh-on-Sea, we've found the five closest municipalities to Leigh-on-Sea.