Not long ago, the business water market was severely restricted. The average business was not allowed to switch water suppliers. This luxury was only open to those that used a hefty amount of water – over 5000m³ in total – on an annual basis.
In April 2017, however, the situation changed completely.
This is because the water market in England is deregulated. In general, this meant that retail services were separated from clean water supply/wastewater removal. What does this mean, exactly? Well, it means an independent company is responsible for providing a business with a water retail service. In contrast, a wholesale regional water company – typically the same one that supplied the business before – takes care of providing clean water and taking away wastewater.
Who is Eligible to Switch Their Business Water Supplier?
Despite the change to the rules, certain factors need to be covered before a business is eligible to change water supplier.
One of the biggest is dependent on where your business is located in the UK. If you are in England, you know the business water market was deregulated in 2017. This is the same situation in Scotland, as the country underwent deregulation a few years prior. Sadly, Wales has yet to follow suit as of writing. This means if you are based in Wales – or your current water/wastewater supplier is based in the country – and want to make the switch, your business has to use at least 5000m³ of water annually.
Another element to consider is how your business premises is used. If it is only used for business purposes, this is not a problem. Yet if you work from home and your premises are primarily used for domestic purposes, it is unlikely your business will be eligible to switch suppliers.
What Are The Reasons A Business Would Want To Switch Water Supplier?
What if you do not think you need to switch business water supplier? Well, before you settle on that decision, there are several aspects to ponder. Here are a few of the main reasons that make business owners decide to change water supplier:
The cost
The biggest reason someone wants to change should not be a surprising one. Companies are always searching for ways to reduce their expenditure, and there is always the possibility a water supplier is offering their services at a cheaper rate than one a business is currently using. This can be found out by receiving quotes from other suppliers. If a business owner realises their water-related needs can be gained at a much more affordable rate, they are likely to make the change – or use this knowledge to negotiate with their current supplier.
Customer Service
Customer service plays a big role when working with any type of supplier. If an organisation feels like their water supplier is not communicating effectively or doing their tasks as expected, they may feel this is a big enough reason to start searching for a different supplier that places a greater emphasis on customer service.
The Right Solutions
On certain occasions, an organisation will outgrow its current water management solutions. If they require new solutions that their current provider does not offer, they will have to move and find one that matches their needs. Additionally, their current supplier might be rigid in the type of water management plan they offer. If a business requires tailored services to meet their needs and maximise their budget, they may decide it is worth their time to search for a supplier that offers customised packages.
How to Work with Your Supplier to Find a Resolution
Even if you are unhappy with your current business water rates, it does not mean you have to change suppliers automatically. There’s always room for negotiation. Plus, you might be surprised at just how far a supplier will go to prevent you from signing up with a rival.
This is especially the case if your organisation is one that uses an extensive amount of water. No supplier wants to lose a ‘big fish’. So, if you contact them to say you have received a more competitive quote from a different provider, they might be willing to lower their price in response.
Having a healthy relationship with your current supplier can also go a long way. If you are a problem customer for instance, it does not matter how big your organisation is – this can lead to you missing out on the right deal. However, if you maintain a strong relationship, there is going to be more room for favourable negotiations.
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