South East secures five-year billing contract with ESP Water

South East Water has secured a five-year contract to act as the billing agent for ESP Water.

The newly licenced ESP Water was launched in April 2021 to provide water and wastewater services across England and Wales under Ofwat’s New Appointment and Variation (NAV) regime.

Parent company ESP Utilities Group has been an independent gas transporter since 2000 and an independent distribution network operator since 2008. The new venture will enable the group to provide a full multi-utility offering.

ESP Water will serve both commercial and domestic customers, with its main focus being new housing developments. As billing agent, South East Water will send ESP Water branded bills to its customers.

Tanya Sephton, customer services director at South East Water, said: “We’re really excited to be working with ESP Water as it enters into the water market.

“This gives us a great opportunity to extend our commercial operations outside of the south east by supporting ESP Water with our experience of third party billing operations.

“We are also keen to expand this side of our business and offer similar services to other water and sewerage operators which will benefit from our expertise and experience.”

Steve Morris, managing director at ESP Water, said “Having a multi-utility proposition that includes water and wastewater, to complement our existing gas and electricity offerings, supports ESP’s future growth ambitions.

“As the market matures, and the benefits of a NAV become ever more evident to developers, our expectation is that a multi-utility proposition will become the norm.

“We are delighted to be working with South East Water’s exceptional team of experienced staff and benefiting from its first class billing solution. This will enable us to offer our customers a high quality of service as we continue to grow our water business.”