Nearly 70% of businesses in the Bristol Water supply area are ready for the new retail market which opens for business in April, according to a new survey.

Awareness of the new market was just 32% when Bristol Water conducted its last business stakeholder survey in May last year.

However, the results of the latest survey show a dramatic improvement with 69% of the 326 respondents saying they were aware of future competition and that from April they would be able to switch to a new supplier.

Bristol Water has been working on a year-long communications programme around retail market opening to ensure staff, stakeholders and customers understand the changes.

Ben Newby, Customer Services Director at Bristol Water, said:

“Everyone in the water industry is talking about water deregulation in England this year, so it’s good to know that the message is getting through to the businesses who will benefit from the change.”

“It’s important that non household customers are aware of the choice that is now open to them in terms of retail services, while at the same time we want to reassure everyone that they can still expect high standards of customers service from us as we move into a wholesale role.”

Claire Forbes, Ofwat’s senior director for communications added:

 “As one of the Open Water programme partners, we are delighted to see this level of awareness. The England wide customer awareness campaign is certainly having an impact and we know from the feedback we are getting that more and more businesses, charities and public sector customers are now aware that they will soon be able to choose their water and wastewater retailer.”