The Water Industry Commission for Scotland, the Consumer Futures Unit of Citizens Advice Scotland and Scottish Water have signed an agreement to establish the next Customer Forum for Water.
The Forum will be responsible for ensuring the interests of customers and communities are embedded in the forthcoming Strategic Review of Charges 2021-27 (SRC) which sets prices and levels of service for Scottish Water.
The Forum will be an independent entity, but will work closely with WICS, the CFU and Scottish Water to ensure that customers’ views are at the heart of Scottish Water’s business plan for the next regulatory period 2021-27.
The positions adopted by the Forum will be informed by research and evidence to enable it to be a powerful, authoritative conduit of customers’ views. Within the requirements of Ministers’ objectives and acceptable ranges set by WICS, the Forum will be responsible for negotiating key elements of the business plan; ensuring it reflects what customers see as important.
The final decision on Scottish Water’s business plan for 2021-27 will be taken by WICS.
Alan Sutherland, Chief Executive of the Water Industry Commission said:
“We see customer and community engagement as an essential element of the economic regulatory process. Engagement can only truly be effective if customers are empowered to take meaningful decisions. The Customer Forum seeks to do just that. It will be even more integral to the price setting process than it was in our last price review. There will be a significantly increased focus on the views of customers and communities.”
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