Your Complete Guide to Utilities in Newbury
If you've moved and have questions about Newbury? Our utilities guide to Newbury will help you to find out everything about broadband, area codes, power generation and energy distributors, and Newbury water and sewerage. Keep reading to learn everything about utilities in Newbury.
About Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury RG14 has a population of 38,762 and is located in the county of Berkshire. Berkshire has a population of 915,157 people.
Who supplies my water in Newbury?
Newbury water services are provided by Thames Water. Here are the main contact numbers for Thames Water:
How to get in touch with the water supplier in Newbury
Ringing a contact number for Thames Water is just one method of contact to deal with your Newbury water account.
In the table below we have listed the main phone numbers for Thames Water general enquiries and emergencies.
| Thames Water telephone number | Thames Water Emergency telephone number |
|---|---|
| 0800 980 8800 | 0800 714 614 |
| Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-6pm, Emergencies 24/7/365 | |
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Write to Thames Water
Additionally, you can communicate with Thames Water, by composing a letter or sending an email. You can also send your request via the Thames Water website.
If you prefer to write 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 |
|---|
| customer.feedback@thameswater.co.uk |
Price of water in Newbury
Water rates in Newbury are based on if your home has a water meter or not. It's easy to find out if your Newbury water rates are metered or unmetered rates by checking your water bill or by getting in touch with the supplier. Homes with metered Newbury water rates will have a meter number listed on their water bills.
Metered Customers in Newbury
Customers that have a water meter at their Newbury 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 Thames Water. While the variable charges cover the usage at your Newbury home.
Unmetered Customers in Newbury
Customers that don't have a water meter at their Newbury 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 Newbury home.
The rate unmetered customers pay for water in Newbury will be based on the rateable value of your home. The rateable value of your Newbury 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 have a small family, or live alone, getting a water meter for your Newbury might work out 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 Newbury?
The average water bill Newbury residents are charged is £19.33 per month, which is £232 annually.
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How do I pay my Newbury water bill?
You will first need to register with Thames Water. After you register your details with 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 Newbury 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. When you set up your Thames Water account, you will be able to choose your preferred payment method and frequency.
Can I switch the water supplier in Newbury?
Unfortunately, your water supplier is fixed and depends on the catchment area based on your postcode. As a customer in Newbury RG14, your water supplier is 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.
Newbury Water Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have answers to the most frequently asked questions that customers in Newbury have about their water supply.
Frequently Asked Questions About Water in Newbury
Is water from the tap in Newbury safe to drink?
Yes! It's safe to drink the tap water in Newbury. You can rest assured that Newbury water meets high standards making it safe to drink. The UK Drinking Water Inspectorate has given Newbury water quality 99.94% in overall mean zonal compliance, meaning that your water is safe to drink. It is not required to boil or filter Newbury water to make it drinkable.
Where does the water in Newbury come from?
There are three main sources of water that supply Newbury:
- Surface sources - 93%
- Groundwater sources - 6%
- Mixed sources - 1%
How hard is the water in Newbury
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 Newbury is over 276ppm, that makes the water hardness in Newbury is rated as very hard water.
What does this mean?
The water being supplied to your home in Newbury contains slightly elevated levels of minerals that cause hard water. very hard water will not clean your clothes, dishes, or your body efficiently, and your appliances will be less efficient which is not good news for your utility bills. There may also be more limescale in your appliances and the taste of your tap water may be affected.
Selectra recommends
We recommend adding a softening agent to the water in Newbury.
- 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.
Newbury No Water
If you have no water in your Newbury 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 Newbury.
If there is no water at your Newbury home, is the problem no cold water or no hot water? If you don't have hot water but have cold water, the problem will be with the plumbing at your home and not a problem affecting Newbury.
If your home has no cold water, not even a trickle, contact Thames Water for advice. You can also try the following:
- Look at the "In Your Area" sections on the Thames Water website for any explanations as to why you have no water.
- Examine the Twitter account of 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.
Newbury water leak or flooding
Newbury water problems might include anything from flooding or a leak, to a burst water main in your Newbury 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 Newbury property, you should try to do one of the following as long as it's safe to do so:
- Contact Thames Water whether the problem is with clean water or wastewater.
- If you can go on the internet at your current location, visit the "report a leak" page on the Thames Water website and complete the online form to report the issue.
Why does the water in Newbury taste strange?
If you notice a change in taste or smell with your Newbury water this could be because of one of the following reasons:
- Chlorination is a safe manner to ensure thorough hygiene in the pipe network.
- Seasonal changes can affect it by infusing your Newbury water with an earthy taste or smell.
- Plumbing can be a contributing factor to the taste of your water, adding metallic, salty, or rubbery hints to Newbury water.
If you are unsure about your water's appearance, smell, or taste, you can speak to Thames Water via the contact channels listed above.
Broadband Speed in Newbury RG14
The speed of your internet connection at your Newbury home is dependant upon several factors such as:
- Availability of fibre
- How far from the telephone exchange you are
- 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 internet speed in Newbury with our easy to use broadband speed test tool.
Did you know that the average download speed in the UK is around 62.5Mbps?
| Newbury Average Download Speed | Newbury Average Upload Speed |
|---|---|
| 96.40 Mbps | 35.20 Mbps |
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The way you choose to connect to the internet can affect the speed you get at your home in Newbury. 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 homes in the UK.
The slowest way to access the internet is ADSL, in some remote parts of the UK this type of connection is the only one available.
What to look for when picking a broadband provider in Newbury?
It's 2022, which means the internet is just as important as any other utility, perhaps more important. So picking the right internet provider can be unnerving. Don't worry, we've covered four main points to think about when picking a broadband provider in Newbury.
Availability
The first point to bear in mind before picking a broadband provider in Newbury is the issue of availability. The majority of homes in Newbury should have access to 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 since developers often install the latest infrastructure when constructing new homes.
Type of connection
What kinds of internet connection are available in Newbury?
- Fibre broadband
- This is the fastest type of connection you can get in Newbury
- Fibre broadband is split into two categories, they are known as '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 connection that is delivered through a standard telephone line.
- Has a slower download speed of up to 24 Mbps.
- Available to the majority of Newbury homes.
- Cable
- Speeds similar to, or faster than, fibre broadband.
- Available only via Virgin Media.
- Limited availability in some parts of Newbury.
- 4G/5G, Mobile, and Satellite Broadband
- Speed depends on strength of the mobile coverage in Newbury.
- Can be more expensive for heavy users without unlimited data.
- Can tether to your smartphone without special equipment, though some mobile networks do not allow tethering.
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Newbury broadband cost
You also need to consider how much it costs for the broadband in Newbury. It's easy to find a broadband provider that's 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 broadband connection in Newbury. Some providers will raise the price even whilst you're in contract. In the news recently, there was a BT price hike which affects millions of BT customers.
Newbury Broadband Reliability
The reliability of the broadband connection is in Newbury must also be considered, with so many people that work from home either full-time or part-time, we need to have a reliable internet connection to do your work is really important.
When we're relaxing we're playing online games with friends or streaming movies and TV shows meaning without an internet connection that's reliable at your Newbury home is something to think about.
Newbury broadband customer service
Finally, the technical support for your Newbury broadband internet is of utmost importance. There's a good chance you will never need to contact your broadband provider, but if you ever do need to speak to them a high level of customer support that deals with your query efficiently and quickly is definitely something worth considering when selecting an internet provider in Newbury.
Broadband FAQ
In the FAQ below, we've answered the frequently asked questions that customers in Newbury have about broadband internet.
Broadband Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is the broadband in Newbury?
The average speed of broadband in Newbury is:
| Newbury Average Download Speed | Newbury Average Upload Speed |
|---|---|
| 96.40 Mbps | 35.20 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 a kind of fibre broadband connection with download speeds of at least 30 Mbps.
- FTTC: Fibre To The Cabinet - this kind of fibre connection is first delivered to a green box on your street in Newbury, from there it's connected to your home through your existing telephone line.
- FTTP/FTTH: Fibre To The Premises/Home - The connection is delivered using 100% fibre cables to your Newbury house. This means it's very fast and extremely reliable. Currently, 31.83% of houses in the UK .
What broadband speed do I need?
It really does depend on how you will use the internet. Take a look at this table for a general idea which speed you should pick for a broadband service in Newbury.
| Frequent internet uses | Recommended Broadband Speed | 2 devices or less |
|---|---|---|
| 2 devices or less | Web, email, working from home (WFH), light streaming, social media, etc | 10-25 Mbps Broadband |
| Maximum of 5 devices | AAll the above and 4K streaming or online gaming | 50-100 Mbps Broadband |
| 5 devices or more | All the above plus 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 two types of radio frequencies an internet router uses to transmit data to connected devices. 2.4Ghz WiFi travels across longer distances, but has a slower speed. 5Ghz WiFi signals don't have as much range, but your data will be transmitted faster.
What's the telephone dialling code of Newbury
The telephone dialling code, sometimes called the area code, for Newbury is 01635. If you call someone in Newbury, and you're located in a different region, you must add 01635 to the number you'd like to call.
How much does an 01635 Newbury call cost?
If you have calls included with your landline or mobile tariff, then the call cost will probably be included in that tariff. If calls are not included with your tariff, it should cost in the region of 10p per minute, plus a small call set-up charge.
If you are unsure whether you have inclusive calls, we recommend getting in touch with your provider before making the call so you don't find unexpected charges on your telephone bill.
How many dialling codes does the UK have? Including Northern Ireland, The UK has 645 area codes. They are a mix of three, four, or five digits long.
Electricity and Gas in Newbury
Residents of Newbury can choose their gas and electricity supplier, 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 officially called Distribution Network operators (DNOs) and they are the company that own, operates and maintains the infrastructure that supplies your Newbury home to the gas network and electricity grid.
More often than not you won't need to speak to the Newbury distribution network operator, but should the need arise, you can easily find out which DNO is responsible for Newbury in this section.
You can also read more about what a Distribution Network Operator (DNO) does in our Distribution Network Operator guide
Electricity Distribution Network Operator for Newbury
The electricity distribution network operator for Newbury 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:
| Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks - Central Southern England Contact Information | |
|---|---|
| General Enquiries | 0800 048 3516 |
| Emergencies | 0800 072 7282 |
| GE@ssen.co.uk | |
| Website | https://www.ssen.co.uk/ |
| Address | Inveralmond House, 200 Dunkeld Road Perth |
The UK has six electricity distribution network operators:
- Electricity North West
- Northern Powergrid
- SSE Networks
- SP Energy Networks
- UK Power Networks
- Western Power Distribution
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Power Generation near Newbury
There are no power plants within a 10 mile radius of Newbury.
Fossil Fuels
In 2021, 47.4% of the UK’s total electricity production was by burning fossil fuels. This came mostly from natural gas (42%) and coal (2.7%). Additionally, a tiny amount was generated with other types of fossil fuels (2.7%). The amount of electricity produced from fossil fuels changes 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 currently under construction.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy produced 40.3% of electricity in 2021, which is up from 29% in 2018. Renewable fuel sources include solar, wind, hydro, and biomass. This will conmtinue to rise as the UK is focussed on meeting its net-zero targets.
Municipalities Close By Newbury
You might be wondering which municipalities are close to Newbury, in the table below you can see the closest five municipalities to Newbury.
| Municipality | Distance from Newbury |
|---|---|
| Chieveley | 1.64 miles |
| Thatcham | 3.07 miles |
| Yattendon | 3.36 miles |
| Hermitage | 3.36 miles |
| Hampstead Norreys | 3.36 miles |