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Waterscan has become the first non-water-supplier to request a licence to operate in the business retail market, which will open to competition in April next year.
The water management firm has applied to Ofwat for a water supply and sewerage licence (WSSL), saying it will target multi-site clients in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.
The retail service will operate as a separate business unit, while using Waterscan’s existing water management software and expertise.
“Waterscan aims to position itself as the innovative and independent partner for strategic water management services to the commercial market,” the company said.
Its core service will be to provide “accurate client billing data to wholesalers, retailers and clients”.
With less than a month until the shadow market opens, Affinity Water remains the only incumbent English company, aside from those looking to exit, which has not applied for a WSSL. The company said it will set out its plans this month, and that it wants to remain in the market.
So far, Portsmouth Water, Southern Water and Thames Water have announced plans to exit the market. Scottish retailer Castle Water will take on the business customers of Portsmouth and Thames, while Southern’s customers will be handed to Scottish incumbent supplier Business Stream.
Read Utility Week’s analysis – Thames Water quits business retail – here and Q&A with Thames chief financial officer Stuart Siddall here
The total number of companies to have applied for licences since Ofwat opened the process now stands at 15. The regulator has predicted as many as 40 new applications in the coming year.
Scottish players Castle Water, Business Stream, Cobalt Water and Clear Business Water have all submitted applications to participate in the English market.
Read Utility Week’s Q&A with Business Stream chief executive Johanna Dow here
English incumbents which have applied for licences are: Northumbrian Water Business – which has rebranded as Wave – Pennon Water Services, Anglian Water Business, Sutton and East Surrey Water Services, South Staffordshire Water Business, Water 2 Business, and Kelda Retail, and South East Water.
Severn Trent and United Utilities have also applied for their joint venture Water Plus, which was announced at the beginning of March. Chief executive Sue Amies-King told Utility Week that Water Plus would be “agile and innovative”, and bring in “fresh new ideas” from the new people being recruited.
Read the full Q&A with Amies-King here
Small Scottish supplier Everflow told Utility Week it is considering buying into the English market when it opens and will be applying for a licence soon. Veolia UK has also said it wants to grow its retail activities in the market, but has not yet applied for a licence.
Those wanting to join the market before it opens must apply to Ofwat on later than 5 October.
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