Anglian Water Business (AWB) and NWG Business (NWGB) have joined forces to create a new water and wastewater retailer to non-household customers in England and Scotland – known as Wave,  the new joint venture intends to become a multi-utility retailer, providing gas and electricity services.

The deal – a 50/50 joint venture – has been struck in advance of changes that allow businesses, charities and public sector organisations to choose their water retailer from the beginning of April this year.

Announcing the new joint ventures. AWB and NWGB said the expertise brought to the deal by both companies would create a highly efficient business able to offer customers significantly simpler management of their utility services.

The joint venture creates a business which will have more than a quarter of a million customers and a combined turnover of more than £500 million..

Wave customers will have access to a range of efficiency services. The new joint venture intends to become a multi-utility retailer, providing gas and electricity services in addition to the water and wastewater services initially on offer. The intention is to create a utility bundle that will be easy to understand, monitor and manage.

AWB was the first English company to be granted a retail licence to operate in the already competitive Scottish market. The expertise will be combined with the NWGB team’s knowledge of the energy markets, and customer service systems that have been developed to be able to support a multi-utility proposition.

Wave customers with multi-site premises will receive unified billing for all their sites. They will be able to manage their account online, with 24/7 access for meter reading submission, viewing bills, bill payment and raising of queries. Simple, flexible billing and payment options are intended to make dealing with Wave easier for customers, while offers such as the ability to select fixed price energy contracts would mean customers are, in future, able to forecast costs more accurately and protect their business from energy price volatility.

Heidi Mottram, Chief Executive at Northumbrian Water Group, said:

 “The opening of the market enabling non-household customers to choose their supplier is a significant moment for the industry. We’re very excited at the prospect of using our combined strengths to bring a new offering to customers who are able to make a choice for the first time. We have every confidence that this joint venture will create a very compelling offer for non-household customers, both present and future.

“Our investment in customer service and IT capabilities demonstrates our commitment to make sure that the new market succeeds, and that our customers experience genuine benefits as a result.”

Peter Simpson, Chief Executive of Anglian Water Group, said:

“On the eve of the non-household market opening to competition, we’re delighted to be able to announce the creation of Wave, a business which brings together two culturally similar organisations who both have a passion for great customer service. We’ve built up distinct expertise serving our respective regions in recent years, and our complementary experiences will come together to offer customers a very competitive service offering.”

NWG Business and Anglian Water Business will enter the new market in April as separate entities, combining to form the new business, Wave, following regulatory clearance.

The joint venture is subject to clearance from the competition authorities.