Testing the water
The Water Industry Commission for Scotland to host seminars to spread the word on water competition in Scotland.
The Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) is running four specialist seminars in April to raise awareness among businesses in Scotland, England & Wales that the water market in Scotland has been opened up to competition.
These seminars are being conducted in partnership with Utility Week to follow the launch of a new competitive structure that allows over 130,000 businesses and public bodies in Scotland from corner shop to multi-national conglomerate to choose where they buy their water from. This is a world first for the water sector.
The seminars (Glasgow, Edinburgh, London and Manchester) will give local businesses a chance to see how this new change will affect them.
Four suppliers have now been licensed to provide services to Scottish businesses and public bodies Satec, Aquavitae, Business Stream and Osprey Water Services and all will be present at seminars in Manchester, London, Glasgow and Edinburgh to give potential customers details on their service offerings.
Alan Sutherland, Chief Executive of WICS: These changes will bring improved services and competitive pricing. Scotland is leading the world in the introduction of a competitive framework for the water and sewerage sector and we want every business and public body with interests in Scotland, from the smallest corner shop to an international conglomerate, to know that they could benefit from the changes.
All business customers and public bodies are now eligible to switch water companies by making a phone call to their new chosen supplier. The rest of the process will be handled by the new supplier together with a new independent industry body, the Central Market Agency (CMA).
Apart from a competitive pricing policy, new licensees may offer a range of additional services including single source billing, water saving measures, leakage reduction, quality and consistency of supply, and fast reaction response. Environmental advice such as the use of grey water or off-peak pumping services, and individually tailored solutions that are geared to each users needs, may also be accommodated.
Visit www.scotlandontap.gov.uk to find out more and to register your interest to attend.
Dates for seminars:
Thursday 24th April Glasgow Hilton
Friday 25th April Edinburgh Balmoral
Thursday 1st May London Washington Hotel
Friday 2nd May Manchester Malmaison
