Market opening on track despite planning chaos, says CCWater

The opening of the non-domestic retail market will still meet its April 2017 target despite renewed chaos over Ofwat's plans, insists the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater).

Plans for the opening of the water market hit a second major snag last week, when Ofwat’s chief executive Cathryn Ross revealed that the regulator’s plan to appoint the Water Industry Commission for Scotland to oversee the programme had been vetoed by the Scottish regulator’s board.

This follows Ofwat’s announcement in August last year that it was winding down Open Water Markets Limited, the body initially charged with market opening, after the Treasury refused to allow it to be classified as a private body.

Speaking exclusively to Utility Week, CCWater senior policy manager Steve Hobbs said despite this latest change, “we expect it to stay on course” but only if “all of the players involved to make sure it happens on time”.

“It is important everyone involved works hard to ensure all the right things are in place to deliver what the customers are expecting at that time.”

He said: “There is always a risk, but it is public knowledge that the market is coming. The date has been set.”

A spokesperson from the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) said: “We continue to work closely with Ofwat and Open Water Markets as we remain on track to meet our target of April 2017.”

Hobbs added that Ofwat has a “vital role” in ensuring there are no further delays to the timetable and to get the market “in shape”.

In a letter to the water company chief executives, Ross revealed last week the appointment of the new director of the market opening project – to be publically named in March – who will report directly to her.

In addition the regulator will go out to tender for a commercial delivery partner within the next couple of months, and begin a series of independent “gateway reviews” of the programme, designed to give the sector confidence.