Water company meter readers have been contracted out to another company.

Southern Water has enlisted Siemens to take over its meter reading section for three years.

The move affects 40 members of staff, who will be employed by Siemens but will have their working conditions protected by TUPE transfer of undertaking regulations.

Siemens will read meters in Southern Water's area of Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Siemens Energy Services already works with the UK's major water companies on water treatment processes and provides meter reading services to utilities such as British Gas and EDF Energy, reading meters in more than ten million homes.

Southern Water said the move will save it money and the savings could be passed on to customers.

Jon Crooke, Southern Water's operations manager, said: "As a regulated business we have a duty to deliver improvements and efficiencies and using external providers in this way is enabling us to do that.

"It is enhancing the company's overall performance and allowing us to focus on providing a better deal for our four million customers."

Last week the Consumer Council for Water expressed continuing concern that Southern Water's levels of service are "still below par" in terms of ease of telephone contact, dealing with complaints and other inquiries or requests.

It said the problems needed to be addressed as a matter of urgency. In a statement, the council said: "Their customers' reasonable expectations are not being met and improvements must now be forthcoming if customers' confidence in the company is to be restored. We will look to Ofwat to use their statutory powers if necessary to ensure that this happens."

Meters will continue to be read every six months and customers will continue to receive bills directly from Southern Water.

Siemens meter readers all carry an identity card bearing a name, employee number and a recent colour photograph. Identity cards, uniforms and vans all carry the Siemens logo and uniforms also carry the words "Siemens working in partnership with Southern Water." On their identity cards the number of Siemens' main office, 0800 0152221, is printed for householders to call free of charge to check whether the meter reader is genuine.