Am I Eligible To Switch Business Water Suppliers?

England’s business water retail market opened up back in April 2017, meaning that for the very first time companies across the country were able to switch business water suppliers, able to find one that better suited them and their various industry-specific needs, taking advantage of better tariffs and better customer service.

The market itself works in much the same way as other utility markets, such as gas and electricity, but while companies are used to switching their accounts in this regard, it can be difficult to know how to go about finding the best water supplier since the market is so very new. Knowing how to find the best deal can be a bit of a minefield.

First of all, you need to know if you’re actually eligible to switch in the first place. You will likely be able to move suppliers if your premises is used primarily for business purposes, rather than domestic, but it also depends on where your current water and wastewater supplier is based.

If your existing supplier is based in England, you’ll likely find that you are eligible to switch, but those customers in Wales or whose current supplier is based in Wales will only be able to choose their own supplier if they use over 50 million litres of water a year.

All eligible public sector organisations, charities and businesses in England can choose their own retail services for water and wastewater, regardless of how much water they use.

Note that if you receive a cold caller from a company claiming to be a water retailer, you should always do due diligence and carry out a background check on the firm in question, so you can be sure that they are exactly who they say they are.

This is easily done by seeing if they’re registered on Open Water, where you’ll find the details of all licenced retailers. Also consider getting in touch with Ofwat, the industry regulator, to see if they can confirm that the company is, in fact, licensed to operate.

There are many benefits associated with switching retailer, including better standards of service, lower prices, tailored service offerings and advice on how to save water, while still enjoying the same quality of water.

If you’ve been considering switching but aren’t sure how to go about it, or even if you’re eligible to make the move, get in touch with the team here at SWS to find out how we can help you find the right retailer for you. We can provide you with the knowledge and availability of an expert team in the field of non-household water consultancy, combined with access to our switching and water procurement platform, which is an industry first and entirely unique. Give us a call today to find out more.