Open Water has today published a baseline version of the arrangements governing all interactions between wholesalers and retailers in the competitive retail market for non-household customers.
The rules and procedures will allow all non-household organisations in England the opportunity to choose their supplier. Today’s publication confirms that Open Water is on track for the planned opening of a fully competitive retail market by April 2017.
The new market is expected to bring significant benefits for non-household water and sewerage customers, including better, more tailored services, lower prices and a greater emphasis on water efficiency advice and other environmental services. The changes were enabled by the Water Act 2014, which received Royal Assent in May.
Environment Minister Dan Rogerson said:
“We are committed to opening the retail market for businesses, charities and public sector customers in April 2017, benefitting both businesses and the economy. The revised Market Architecture Plan represents important progress towards that goal.”
“This comes shortly after our consultation on Retail Exits, both are significant milestones helping companies make essential decisions ahead of the market opening.”
“It is great to see the industry working collaboratively with Government and the regulator to make the reforms in the Water Act a reality.”
Open Water published the first ‘Market Architecture Plan’ (MAP 1) in July 2014. In the four months since then, the programme has worked closely with the incumbent water and sewerage companies and new entrants to progress a number of elements of the new market arrangements.
Today’s document, the Market Architecture Plan 2, includes the proposed baseline statutory wholesale-retail code. The code provides information to companies that they will need in order to make their preparations for April 2017 when the market will open.
Open Water said it it looks forward to working with the companies and all other stakeholders, including Defra, Ofwat, the Drinking Water Inspectorate, and the Environment Agency, in 2015 as the arrangements are refined and implemented.
The feedback that the programme receives will play a key part in ensuring that the new market is as effective and as efficient as possible, bringing maximum benefits for both customers and the environment.
Click here to download Market Architecture Plan 2
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