Things are heating up in the UK ahead of the non-household market opening to competition in April 2017 with water industry regulator Ofwat just having granted even more water and sewerage retail licences.
South East Water has been granted a sewerage licence which will enable the company to provide retail sewerage services to its existing 60,000 water customers via its dedicated retail arm South East Water Choice. Three Sixty Water Ltd. has been granted both water and sewerage retail licences.
This brings the total of retailers who have been granted water and sewerage licences to thirteen: Affinity Water, Anglian Water Business (National) Ltd, Business Stream, Castle Water, Clear Business, South East Water Choice, Cobalt Water, Kelda Water Services Retail, NWG Business, SES Business Water, Source for Business, SSWB Ltd, Water Plus, and Water 2 Business.
The new deal means that From April 2017 nearly every business water customer in England will be able to choose who they pay for their retail services; this also means that they have the opportunity to either choose one retailer for their fresh water supply and another for wastewater services or use the same company for both.
The services will cost the same, and customers will be able to discuss all details about their supply with their chosen retailer, including bills and payments, meter reading, and customer service and water saving advice. It is estimated that this will actually save businesses both water and money in the long run.
It is all about having the freedom to choose, and it is foreseen that the forthcoming competition in the retail water market will bring businesses better value for money, lower bills and charges, improved customer service, tailored services such as consolidated billing, and a more water efficient business. There are also other opportunities for business, including becoming a self-supply licensee.
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