Preparing for retail market opening in the water industry: Impacts for the Commercial Drainage and Water Enquiry

From April 2017, all non-household customers in England will be able to choose their supplier of water and sewerage retail services. This is a result of a change in the law under the Water Act 2014, designed to introduce competition into the water industry.

Whilst existing water companies will still own and maintain water and sewerage networks, services including billing, handling customer queries and complaints, and meter reading will be provided by a number of different companies (see Open Water’s website for more information).

This change will have an impact on commercial drainage and water enquires. From April 2017, answers to the following questions will be affected:

  • 2.3: Is a surface water drainage charge payable?
  • 4.2: Who bills the property for sewerage services?
  • 4.3: Who bills the property for water services?

With surface water, the enquiry will continue to indicate whether or not surface water discharges to a public sewer. Where such connections exist, a drainage charge may be applicable.

With regard to who bills a property, the existing owner should be in a position to let you know who the current retailer is. A full list of potential retailers is available here.

It also means that the current question 4.4:

What is the current basis for charging for sewerage and water services at the property?

Will be replaced by the question:

Is there a meter installed at this property?

As information regarding billing will be held by the retailer, not the water undertaker.

All the other information usually contained in your commercial drainage and water enquiry will remain as comprehensive as it is currently.