The water management firm Waterscan recently applied to Ofwat for a water supply and sewerage licence (WSSL), to operate in the business retail market, namely multi-site clients in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.
Waterscan is the first non-water-supplier to request a licence once the business retail market opens in April next year. According to the company, the retail service will use Waterscan’s existing water management software and expertise while operating as a separate business unit.
There is less than a month to go before the shadow market opens, and to date Southern Water, Portsmouth Water, and Thames Water have all announced plans to exit the market. The Scottish incumbent supplier Business Stream will take over Southern water’s customers, and Scottish retailer Castle Water will take on the business customers of Portsmouth and Thames.
Aside from those looking to exit, the only incumbent English company that has not applied for a WSSL is Affinity Water, although Affinity has stated that it does want to remain in the market and will set out its plans later this month.
Since Ofwat opened the process, a total of fifteen companies, including Scottish players Castle Water, Cobalt Water, Business Stream, and Clear Business Water have applied for licences, but Ofwat has said that it expects around forty new applications in the coming year.
Anglian Water Business, Northumbrian Water Business (now rebranded as Wave), South Staffordshire Water Business, Sutton and East Surrey Water Services, Pennon Water Services, Water 2 Business, and Kelda Retail, and South East Water are some of the English incumbents which have applied for licences.
Waterscan has said that the company aims to position itself as the innovative and independent partner for strategic water management services to the commercial market, with its core service able to provide “accurate client billing data to wholesalers, retailers and clients.â€
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