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South East Water has received conditional approval from the secretary of state for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to transfer its non-household retail business to Invicta Water on 1 April 2018.

As South East Water’s non-household retailer, South East Water Choice, has been offering water and wastewater retail services to businesses across the south east since April 2017.

In October last year, the company applied to transfer its retail business to sister company Water Choice in a bid to bring all its retail activities “under one roof”.

It submitted an exit application to Defra and will make the transition a year to the day since the opening of the water retail market.

Invicta Water, trading as Water Choice, has been offering retail services across all of England since market opening.

Tanya Sephton, managing director, South East Water Choice, said letters were being sent out to customers explaining the change. “This will be a seamless transition as they will still be dealing with the same knowledgeable and experienced team, which will also be moving to Water Choice.

“We are delighted that in the nine months since the opening of the market most of our business customers have opted to stay with us not only for their water but many have chosen to switch their wastewater services to benefit from our best value tariff and single bill.”

She added: “As Water Choice we will be able to build on our experience and provide an even more efficient service and improved customer experience to current and new customers. We will continue to provide the easy, clear and transparent service our customers want.”

When the company submitted its application to Defra, Sephton said the move would “simplify” its operations.

South East Water Choice supplies services to 55,000 businesses in Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire.

Water Choice offers dual service of water supply and wastewater removal to businesses throughout England.