Your Complete Guide to Utilities in Balmedie

If you just moved and have some questions about Balmedie? Our complete guide to utilities in Balmedie will explain in detail everything there is to know about broadband, area codes, power generation and energy distributors, and Balmedie water and sewerage. Keep reading to learn everything about utilities in Balmedie.

About Balmedie, Aberdeenshire

Balmedie AB23 has a population of 2,534 and is located in the county of Aberdeenshire. Aberdeenshire has a population of 261,470 people.

Who supplies my water in Balmedie?

Balmedie water utilities are supplied by Scottish Water. In the table below are the contact numbers for Scottish Water:

How to reach your water provider in Balmedie

Calling a phone number for Scottish Water is one of many options to discuss your Balmedie water problems.

In the table below you will find the telephone numbers for Scottish Water general enquiries and emergencies.

Write to Scottish Water

Additionally, you can communicate with Scottish Water, either by email or with a letter in the post. You can also send your request via the Scottish Water website.

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

If you want to email Scottish Water, you can use the email address below:

Cost of water in Balmedie

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

Metered Customers in Balmedie

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

Unmetered Customers in Balmedie

Customers without a meter at their Balmedie 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 Balmedie home.

As an unmetered customer, the rate you pay for water in Balmedie is based on the rateable value of your home. The rateable value part of your Balmedie water rates will have been determined by the local council in the 90s and are unlikey to have changed since then.

Should I get a water meter installed? That depends on how much water you consume. If your family is small, or you don't live with others, installing a water meter at your Balmedie could be cheaper.

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

How do I pay my Balmedie water bill?

You will first need to register with Scottish Water. Once you've registered an account with Scottish 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 should also be able to choose how frequently you pay your Balmedie bill. While some customers like an annual payment, other customers might want to settle for quarterly, monthly, or even weekly payments instead. When you set up your Scottish 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 Balmedie?

Unfortunately, your water supplier is fixed and depends on the catchment area based on your postcode. As a customer in Balmedie AB23, your water supplier is Scottish 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.

Balmedie Water Frequently Asked Questions

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

Broadband Speed in Balmedie AB23

The speed of your broadband connection at your Balmedie 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
• Your broadband provider

Test how fast your internet is and find out how it compares to the average internet speed in Balmedie 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 Balmedie. 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 UK households.

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

What should you consider when searching for a broadband provider in Balmedie?

In 2022, the internet is about as important as any other utility, maybe even more important. So picking the right internet provider might seem daunting at first. Don't worry, we've listed the four important points that you should consider when searching for a broadband provider in Balmedie.

Availability

The first point to bear in mind whilst searching for a broadband provider in Balmedie is the availability. Most homes in Balmedie can take advantage of fibre or 'superfast' connections, people outside a built-up area could face issues getting access to the fastest internet.

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

Type of connection

What are the different types of connection in Balmedie?

• Fibre broadband
• This is fastest connection that's currently available in Balmedie
• We can split fibre connections into two categories, they are called 'Superfast' and 'Full Fibre'
• Superfast broadband has a download speed of at least 24 Mbps.
• A Full Fibre connection comes with downloads speeds from 300 Mbps up to 1 Gbps.
• ADSL or ADSL2
• An internet connection that's delivered through your traditional telephone line.
• Slower speeds up to 24 Mbps.
• High availability with for 99.9% of Balmedie homes.
• Cable
• Speeds similar to, or faster than, fibre broadband.
• Available only via Virgin Media.
• Availability can be limited in some parts of Balmedie.
• 4G/5G, Mobile, and Satellite Broadband
• Speed depends on strength of the mobile coverage in Balmedie.
• Can be more expensive for heavy users without unlimited data.
• Can tether to your smartphone without special equipment, although some of the mobile networks in the UK will not allow tethering.

Balmedie broadband price

Another important consideration is how much it costs for the broadband in Balmedie. It's easy to find a broadband provider that's offering a low priced offer especially for new customers, however you might find the rate suddenly goes up. We recommend you double check the fine print of the deal when you sign up for a broadband connection in Balmedie. 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.

Balmedie Broadband Reliability

How reliable the broadband is in Balmedie also needs consideration, with so many people that work from home full-time or just a few days per week, we need to have a reliable internet connection to keep up to date with work your work is really important.

Then in our freetime we're streaming movies or playing online games with friends which without a reliable broadband connection at your Balmedie home will be an important thing to consider.

Balmedie broadband customer support

Our final tip, the customer service of your Balmedie broadband internet is extremely important. There's a good chance you will never need to contact the internet service provider you choose, but should the need to contact them arises a high level of customer support that is able to solve your issue in a fast and efficient manner should be considered when you choose a broadband provider in Balmedie.

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Broadband FAQ

Our FAQ contains the answers to the most asked questions from customers in Balmedie ask about their broadband.

What's the landline area code in Balmedie

The telephone dialling code, sometimes called the area code, for Balmedie is 01806. If you're calling somebody in Balmedie, and you're located in a different region, you will need to add 01806 to the number you're calling.

How much does an 01806 Balmedie call cost?

If you have a call plan with your landline or mobile, the phone call should be included as part of your tariff. If calls are not included with your tariff, the cost of the call will be about 10p per minute, plus a small call set-up charge.

If you are uncertain whether you have calls included in your tariff, we recommend getting in touch with 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. Area codes in the UK can be three, four, or five digits long.

Gas and Electricity in Balmedie

People living in Balmedie are free to choose their gas and electricity supplier, but whichever supplier they are with, the gas and electricity is going to be maintained and supplied by the local network operator.

These network operators are known as Distribution Network operators (DNOs) and these are the companies that own and operates the infrastructure that connect your Balmedie home to the gas network and electricity grid.

In many cases you won't need to contact the Balmedie distribution network operator, but should you ever need to, you can find the distribution network operator for Balmedie below.

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

Electricity Distribution Network Operator for Balmedie

The electricity distribution network operator for Balmedie is SGN. You can find the SGN 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 Balmedie

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

Fossil Fuels

In 2021, 47.4% of the UK’s total electricity production was by burning fossil fuels. The majority of which was natural gas (42%) and coal (2.7%). Furthermore, a small amount was produced from other types of fossil fuels (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, and in the coming years this is expected to reduce as nuclear power stations in the UK’s begin to close, all but one is expected to stop producing energy by 2035. However, new nuclear reactors are being planned 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 sources can include solar, wind, hydro, and biomass. We can expect to see this continue increasing as the UK aims to meet its net-zero targets.

Municipalities Close By Balmedie

Perhaps you're wondering which towns and cities are close to Balmedie, we've found the five closest municipalities to Balmedie.