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Businesses: Can You Switch Water Supplier?
Businesses in England have been able to switch water supplier since April 2017, which is when the country’s retail water market opened up, giving companies of all shapes and sizes the power to choose their own supplier for the first time.
Before the old regionalised market was reregulated, the majority of companies had no choice but to choose a local water company, but this is no longer the case – so if you’re unhappy with the service you’re currently getting and want to save money by finding better rates elsewhere, this is now a very real possibility.
There are all sorts of benefits associated with switching, whether that’s making cost savings with better tariffs, enjoying a better level of service (such as more timely responses to queries and more accurate billing) or finding a supplier that specialises in services for your industry or operational needs.
However, it can be difficult to know where to begin when it comes to the switching process, as the freedom to choose suppliers is a new experience for the majority of businesses in England. New retail companies enter the market regularly, as well, which can make it even harder to know which supplier would be best for you.
The first step you need to take in order to switch is to check whether your business is eligible.
The market is now open to over a million businesses and organisations in England, but in order to be able to facilitate the move you need to have at least one site in either England or Scotland. Currently, companies in Wales below 50,000m3 per site and Northern Ireland are unable to switch.
Once you know if you’re eligible or not, you can have a water audit carried out. This will look at your current water usable and consumption, comparing it to your present billing. This will reveal any areas where costs could potentially be reduced, increasing your water efficiency.
As soon as you know exactly how you’re using water and what you’re using it for, it will be far easier to find the right supplier to suit your needs.
Talking to water consultants H2o Building Services can help take the hassle out of switching and we can take charge of all the arrangements on your behalf, negotiating the exit from your current supplier and passing on all the necessary information to your new one.
We can carry out a full audit of your water use and billing, and manage the changeover for you, including bill consolidation. We’re also able to offer you continuous support through ongoing bill validation to make sure that you’re always getting the best value there is available.