Water Market Reforms
With effect from April 2017 farmers will be able to choose their water supplier (and also the sewage service provider) in much the same way that they can currently decide on a different energy provider. However this change only applies to business not domestic customers and also those businesses must be situated in England.
This change was brought about by the Water Act 2014. The government has set up a new body called Open Water which is bringing together all the different organisations necessary to deliver this project.
It is thought that this change will bring:
- increased choice for customers,
- better levels of service and more tailored prices
- A more sustainable approach to managing our water and waste water.
This is already in place in Scotland and it is thought that the public sector is set to save over £30 million over 4 years due to price discounts and improvements to water efficiency. There doesn’t appear to be any news on when this will be rolled out to Wales.
Please note: This article is a commentary on general principles and should not be interpreted as advice for your specific situation.
