News

The English Water Retail Market opens April 2017 – Severn Trent and United Utilities join forces?

The rumors and speculation are true – in advance of the English water retail market opening in 2017 Severn Trent Water and United Utilities form a joint venture to take advantage of the new opportunities that come into play very shortly.

The CMA (Central Marketing Agency) have apparently given their blessing and approved the joint venture plans to combine their none household water supply arms forming a new company “Water plus”.

There are those in the water industry who feel the joint venture of two large water companies should not have been allowed at this stage in the proceedings with such a large market share between them even before the market opening.

It is quite frankly very difficult to comprehend, it would be very interesting to hear an unedited version as to the reasoning to allow two large players in the water industry to grab an even bigger market share when the whole idea of the water act 2014 which establishes a framework to inject competition into the English water industry to allow business and residential customers to switch water supplier.

This action may now pave the way for other like minded water companies to enter into similar joint venture agreements in the not too distant future.

Good for customers – you decide.

Meanwhile here is Sue Amies – King introducing the new water business.