The Scottish market opened in 2008 and became the world’s first competitive water market, providing organisations with an opportunity to access to a range of benefits, including lower bills through increased competition. The retail water market in England didn’t open for a further nine years.
How does the water retail market in Scotland differ to that of England?
The Water Services etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 first established a framework for creating a competitive market, which required the separation of Scottish Water’s wholesale services from its retail function. In doing so, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scottish Water, Business Stream, was created and became Scotland’s first non-domestic retailer.
Of course, the framework also allowed for new licensed suppliers to enter and compete in a retail market for business customers, bringing with this the benefit to both public and private-sector organisations of being able to compare services and charges between the water retailers and switch water supplier if they chose.
As with the English market, it depends on the size of your organisation, and the volume of water or production of waste water, as to wether the benefit of switching water supplier alone can provide meaningful savings. However, compared with the English market, the outright savings on water and waste water services are potentially far greater in Scotland, and this can be emphasised by the varying discounts available in different parts of England. Benefits still do vary, though, and are not always limited to those provided by a switch between water retailers.
Additional benefits available to Scottish non-household customers include:
- Improved value for money as water retailers look to provide USPs that include water efficiency services
- Improved standards of customer service based on the more competitive market in which retailers must operate
- Services made available to improve your own operational efficiencies, such as consolidated billing for multiple sites
- More access to help to become a more water efficient business, further reducing costs
Here’s a list of licensed water retailers serving Scotland*
* Listed in a randomly generated order
Bluewater
[vc_wp_text]Bluewater are licensed to supply water and waste water services in Scotland.Telephone:
Website:
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Retailing in:
Scotland
Brightwater
[vc_wp_text]Brightwater are licensed to supply water and waste water services in Scotland.Telephone:
Website:
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Retailing in:
Scotland
Commercial Water Solutions
[vc_wp_text]Commercial water solutions are licensed to supply water and waste water services in Scotland.Telephone:
Website:
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Retailing in:
Scotland
Pinnacle Business Water
[vc_wp_text]Pinnacle business water are licensed to supply water and waste water services in Scotland.Telephone:
Website:
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Retailing in:
Scotland
SSWB
[vc_wp_text]South staffs water business are licensed to supply water and waste water services in Scotland.
Telephone:
Website:
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Retailing in:
Scotland
Aimera
[vc_wp_text]Aimera are licensed to supply water and waste water services in Scotland.
Telephone:
Website:
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Retailing in:
Scotland
Everflow Water
[vc_wp_text]Operating from Stockton-on-Tees, Everflow Water is an independent water retailer with a license to supply water in both England and Scotland. The company cites its rapid growth to its highly competitive rates and in trying to make its customers’ lives easier. Everflow pledges to build a well for every 250 customers switched.Telephone:
Website:
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Retailing in:
England Scotland
SES Business Water
[vc_wp_text]SES Business Water, a trading name of Sutton and East Surrey Water Services Limited, is an established, proactive water retailer with proven billing, meter reading, AMR and water management services. Operating throughout England, Scotland and Wales, SES supplies water and wast water services to all customer sizes and across all sectors.
Telephone:
Website:
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Retailing in:
England Scotland
Castle Water
[vc_wp_text]Castle Water cites itself as the UK’s leading independent business water retailer, providing water and wastewater services to hundreds of thousands of businesses, charities and public bodies in England and Scotland.
On the 1st April 220 Castle Water merged with Affinity for Business creating Castle Water (Southern) Ltd. to continue to serve Affinity’s existing customers.
Telephone:
Website:
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Retailing in:
England Scotland
Wave
[vc_wp_text]Wave was formed following a joint venture between Anglian Water Business and NWG Business, bringing together two established companies with experience in the non-domestic water retail market. Wave aims to make managing utilities straightforward, helping to reduce water and energy use.From smaller companies to large multi-site organisations, Wave recognises every business is different and works with customers to manage water and waste water, drive efficiencies and lower costs.
Telephone:
Website:
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Retailing in:
England Scotland
Waterplus
[vc_wp_text]Water Plus is a water retailer providing billing, meter reading, account management, water efficiency and other services for businesses and organisations across England and Scotland. The company is a joint venture between Severn Trent Water and United Utilities.
Water Plus is licensed to provide water supply and wastewater removal retail services to businesses. It works with businesses across all sectors, from major users and multi-sites, to small, medium and micro businesses.
Telephone:
Website:
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Retailing in:
England Scotland
Business Stream
[vc_wp_text]Business Stream has been supplying water and wastewater services to UK customers in various sectors since 2006 and has acquired the non-household customer base of Southern Water. Offering tailored solutions Business Stream will operate as a retailer in the new market.
Telephone:
Website:
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Retailing in:
England Scotland
Veolia
[vc_wp_text]Veolia Water is licensed to provide water supply and wastewater services to non-household customers in England, Wales and Scotland.
Customer focused, Veolia Water aims to improve customer value by reducing the cost of water services and providing tailored services to suit customer requirements. Customers may also benefit from access and support from Veolia’s experience in environmental services for water, waste and energy.
Telephone:
TBC
Website:
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Retailing in:
England Scotland
Regent Utilities Water
[vc_wp_text]Regent Water is an associated business within Regent Gas, an established commercial gas supplier in the UK since 1995. Regent Water has a water and waste water supply license to cover all the areas in England and Wales.
Telephone:
Website:
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Retailing in:
England Scotland
Clear Business Water
[vc_wp_text]Clear Business Water is a cross-border provider, and the second largest in Scotland. It is licensed to provide water supply and wastewater removal retail services to businesses. Clear Business Water considers itself a small business specialist and aims to help all businesses save money on their water and wastewater retail service costs and offer consolidated billing.Telephone:
Website:
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Retailing in:
England Scotland
the Water Retail company
[vc_wp_text]The Water Retail Company offers a bespoke service that aims to lowers consumption, reduce bills and improve the customer’s environmental footprint. Water efficiency services are at the heart of the business and it works with clients to develop a strategic efficiency plan that uses technology and innovation to drive down bills through reduced water usage, reduced effluent discharge and reduced surface water drainage.
Telephone:
Website:
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Retailing in:
England Scotland
Source for Business
[vc_wp_text]Source for Business is the national retail brand of Pennon Water Services (part of Pennon Group plc) which is licensed to provide water supply and wastewater removal services to customers across England in the business retail water market. Also licensed in Scotland, Source for Business offers a one-stop shop for businesses’ water management needs with simplicity and transparency.
Telephone:
Website:
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Retailing in:
England Scotland
Affinity for business
[vc_wp_text]On the 1st April 220 Affinity for Business merged with Castle Water, creating Castle Water (Southern) Ltd. to continue to serve Affinity’s existing customers.The business cites an experienced team, now part of the 400-stong Castle Water group, who are committed to helping customers with all aspects of an account, from billing queries, low cost water saving devices to large scale water conservation projects.
Telephone:
Website:
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Retailing in:
England Scotland
Water 2 Business
[vc_wp_text]Water 2 Business is a joint venture between Bristol Water and Wessex Water. The company is licensed to provide water supply and wastewater removal retail services to businesses customers in the new market.
Telephone:
Website:
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Retailing in:
England Scotland
Are you a water retailer?
Are your details missing or incorrect? Would you like to provide a revised summary of your business?
Email retailer@switchwatersupplier.com and we’ll help you provide an objective, third-party summary that maintains our desire to represent businesses without bias or prejudice.
For more information about switching water supplier call 03300 552532 or email hello@switchwatersupplier.com
Related Information:
Page: What is the Open Water Market?
Page: Customers in Wales
Page: Switch Water Supplier
Page: Water Audits
Page: Water Bill Validation