The competitive environment of the water supply and wastewater services market is changing rapidly in England and Wales.
Anglian Water supports the introduction of competition, as long as it is introduced in a fair and even way and benefits customers.
Historically, water companies have been able to offer water and wastewater services to large industrial or commercial customers and developers of greenfield sites outside their regional boundaries through the creation of what are known as ‘inset appointments’. The company is responsible for customer service, billing and the maintenance of its supply network.
Three separate developments within our region are now served by independent companies, including one in 2008/9 at Great Billing, Northamptonshire. Since 2005, industrial customers using more than 50 mega litres of water per year (Ml/ year) have also been able to choose which company supplies their water services; Anglian Water or one of a number of independent water companies.
Under this arrangement, independent companies supply water that they have purchased from Anglian Water at a wholesale price. Alternatively, independent companies can acquire and input water into our water network and we will supply to industrial customers at a wholesale price. Under this framework, wastewater services continue to be supplied by Anglian Water.
One independent company went into administration in June 2008, although it had not yet acquired any customers.
Neither approach provides domestic customers with a choice of which water company they wish to use.
Further information on where and how competition is developing can be found here.