Monday 31 October 2011

Businesses to get more choice over their water supplier

The Government is expected to announce changes to legislation that could mean more businesses around the country will be able to find a better deal for their water supply. Currently, only businesses that use more than fifty megalitres of water a year can switch from their existing water supplier to a new one.

The plans laid out by Environment Minister Richard Benyon will reduce this level to five megalitres, allowing another 24,000 businesses the chance to switch. Dame Yve Buckland, Chair of the Consumer Council for Water said: "This will be good news for many business customers, who are currently frustrated by the lack of progress of competition in water.


"The important thing now is to get the system working for those customers who can now switch and will need to have the confidence that they can easily and seamlessly change supplier."

DEFRA say that lowering the threshold could reduce bills and consumption, which in turn could benefit the environment.