NEWS

Leading water consultants H²O Building Services brokered a new water supply deal to switch water supplier for Lookers Plc to reduce water charges to the sites in Scotland.

H²O water auditors carried out an in depth water audit across the estate and calculated a very attractive savings.

Senior Water Consultant at H²O Graham Mann said ” We were appointed by Lookers Plc to reduce water and waste water costs as a part of the overall cost reduction and environmental strategy, this is the first stage in a focused water cost reduction project. Upon examination of the water bills we discovered they were with another water supply company receiving a very small discount so we brokered a new water supply deal. The next stage will be to drive down the water consumption through water bill validation and bureau service, benchmarking high water consumption sites, then surveying the high water users in order to identify the reason for the high water usage and carry out rectification works that will reduce water costs by at least 30%.

Our message to all companies that have sites within the Scottish Water area is of you are offered a discount on your water costs, before signing talk to us first as it is very likely we will give you a better discount by far”

Switch water supplier now and at the stroke of a pen you will make savings of between 10% to 18%.

In a land mark deal for a firm of leading water consultants a new water supply agreement was brokered resulting in a substantial saving on existing water charges over the next 2 years. Senior Consultant Graham Mann brokered the deal having carried out a detailed water audit of all sites for the Jupiter Hotels Group which operate 26 Hotels under the Mecure Brand in the UK. They decided to switch water supplier thereby making a considerable saving on the existing water charges with a stroke of a pen.

Graham Mann said “We negotiated an excellent deal for our client which is just the start of an overall cost reduction water efficiency strategy for the Jupiter Hotel Group. We have in excess of £ 15 million worth of client water suppliers to switch and target to achieve over £ 50 million worth of water supply contracts over the next 2 years which will represent savings in excess of £ 7 million for our clients. This is before we have driven down costs through water efficiency savings and identification of refunds due to previous historical water billing errors.

The message we are sending out to all businesses who have sites in Scotland is that we will achieve reductions for your water and waste water charges of between 10% and 18%, if you switch water supplier with us which is the first important stages of a water cost reduction strategy, the process is very simple.

* Send us copies of your water bills.

* Within 3 days we will get back to you with the best possible discount.

* Once approved by you, sign off the deal and the job is done, we will then ensure a smooth transition to the appointed water supplier and work with you to ensure you meet the agreed water cost reduction targets in the future.

Many companies across the UK are now focusing on water cost reduction driven by the need to reduce costs and reduce waste switching water supplier is just the start of a strategic, focused water cost reduction process.

The best way by far is to consider utilising the services of an experienced water consultant, this will ensure you obtain the best possible deal, not only % discount on charges but in addition value services.

What discounts can you expect to achieve? At the moment there are deal available of between 5.5% at the lower end and 19% at the top end, much is dependant on water volumes and other factors such as whether or not your company discharges Trade Effluent and whether you use the services of a company that provides water cost reduction services in which case you are likely to achieve 1% to 2% more discount than if you approached the new licenced water providers in Scotland. We have heard of large national companies receiving less than 10% discount dealing directly with the water companies.

What contract duration should I specify? No more than 3 years, more licensed providers may enter the water market and provide better deals, also those already in the water market may be put under pressure to also offer better deals.

How easy is it to switch water suppliers in Scotland? Very simple.

* Nominate your water cost reduction consultant (Recommended)

* Supply a copy of the water bills for all sites in Scotland and request the best deal based on billing information supplied.

* Specify 3 year deal, 21 day payment.

* Within 5 working days you should receive your offer, if you accept the terms it should then be a 14 day change over process.

How much will it cost me to switch water supplier? Water consultants fees should range between £ 500 to £ 1,500 but much is dependant on the number of water accounts that require switching, we would NOT recommend a share of savings deal you will pay more!

Interested in switching water supplier? email graham.mann@h2obuildingservices.co.uk the first 10 companies to request this service we will get you the best deal and switch water supplier Free of Charge!

The UK’s leading water consultants H²O Building Services completed a water audit for a customer based in Cannock. The audit revealed that South Staffs Water Company had been overcharging the customer for over 6 years, H²O submitted the claim for approval which was dealt with swiftly by South Staffs Water and a cheque for over £ 65,000 was received today.

Senior Water Consultant Graham Mann said “In addition to the refund of over £ 65,000 the customers costs going forwards will be reduced by £ 12,000 per year and the customer is delighted with the result.

I would urge all companies to consider sending us water bills and request a free water audit, even if they are having their bills validated by energy brokers or other similar companies that deal in gas and power cost reduction, as often they will include water in with a bill validation and bureau service contract for gas and power and often they will not have the expertise to identify, report and realise refunds and reduced charges going forwards.

There will be thousands of companies in that position according to our experiences and a simple water audit by experts is often all that is needed to produce substantial refunds and savings on water charges.”

A Canadian Investor Borealis, the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) and the Universities Superannuation Scheme which is the UK’s second largest pension scheme are behind the acquisition plans.

Severn Trent Water is the largest of the 10 regulated water companies valued at £4.3bn with the shares closing yesterday at   £ 18.25 each.

Top water consultants H²O Building Services today received a cheque for £ 242,873.03 from Severn Trent Water as an interim refund payment for a large national client with a site in Coventry, West Midlands, the estimated overcharge is in excess of £ 1million.

The Senior Water Consultant at H²O Building Services who is dealing with the case said ” I am appalled at the way this water company have dealt with the case, they attempted to dismiss the claim in the early stages and information requests by our firm have been ignored. They initially lied to us claiming the discharge pipe that carries the surface water off site was adopted by them in 2000, it wasn’t. We have today received a refund of £ 242,873.03 as an interim payment, although Severn Trent Water have stated they have evidence the discharge pipe was adopted by them from 2004 they are refusing to supply this information to support the £ 110,000 per year surface water charges levied by them. We do not believe they have the evidence to support the right to levy a charge. The way this company have handled the compliant to date is appalling. We estimate a refund of £ 800,000 is due plus interest and we urge Severn Trent Water to “do the right thing”.

Most water companies will agree that hosepipe bans are unlikely during 2013, water saving should still be implemented in both the home and throughout businesses reducing costs of metered water supplies.

With Thames Water announcing recently thousands more residential properties will have water meters installed paying for water by volume will encourage people to save rather than waste water. After all some 20 million people were effected by restricted use last year.

The environment agency are positive about the water resources in the coming months as river levels are normal for this time of year. Seven water companies introduced hosepipe bans last year as unusually dry winters left rivers and ground water resources extremely low.

South West Water declared that they are ready to cope with the usual surge in demand during the holiday season due to their total store in the companies 21 reservoirs being at 94.7% in comparison to 88.5% during last year.

Water audit firm H²O Building Services received water bills from RAC, having checked site facilities it was discovered that the surface water charges levied by United Utilities were incorrect. H²O Surveyors completed a detailed site survey and submitted a plan together with a claim for a refund and reduced charges going forward.

A few weeks later the £ 11,000 per year charges going forward were cancelled and a refund for £ 69,000 was received, an excellent result from a free water audit.

Reports show water bills have increased by 64% during the last decade. Following research by the new Policy Institute they said charges had doubled since privatisation, there are claims that high prices were due to lack of competition.

The report found almost one third of the average water bill is for operating profit compared with the energy sector at just 9%.

The report commission by Unison said that the water industry is in need of greater scrutiny as water companies continue to post “huge profits” with many water companies running up heavy debts despite previous arrears being written off during the privatisation process.

The Senior Water Consultant at H²O Building Services said “There should be an in-depth investigation as to why the regulator OFWAT agrees to allow water companies to continually overcharge commercial customers and in most instances they do not have to repay the overcharges in full. We estimate literally £millions is being overcharged annually, yet water companies according to “their scheme of charges” agreed by OFWAT do not have to refund the monies back to the date the customer was overcharged. The Consumer Council for Water (C.C.W) is powerless to act and the Government must step in now to sort this. We intend to challenge in court any company that does no refund an overcharge in full back to the date the overcharge commenced. We wish to make it clear not all water companies refuse to refund overcharges.”

Many businesses in Scotland are achieving water savings of around £65 million due to the introduction of retail competition 5 years ago.

Over 16 billion litres have been saved since the water market opened up in April 2008, already demonstrating huge benefits both in cost savings and environmental savings.

Senior Water Consultant Graham Mann at H²O Building Services says ” There is no doubt that retail competition is working in Scotland, the savings for companies is good for business and good for the environment. I do urge caution whilst considering to switch suppliers in Scotland as more water retailers enter the Scottish market, yes prices will be driven down and we here at H²O are seeing quite aggressive price reductions coming through as more and more water retailers fight for position and new business, But at what cost? margins are tight, aggressive pricing or simply buying business is bad for consumers, service will suffer which will cause customers to become disillusioned. I have already seen poor customer service recently, first hand experience whilst auditing a clients water charges having switched supplier, we have attempted several times to contact them with no reply, phone ringing no answer, long response times to emailed requested, then we find a £ 12,000 overcharge. Service comes at a price, we are now arranging our client to switch water suppliers yet again after we have received the £ 12,000 they have been overcharged”

Advice on switching water suppliers – contact the experts at H²O graham.mann@h2obuildingservices.co.uk