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Retail Competition

Retail Competition

From 1 April 2017 all non-household customers have been able to choose who they buy their retail water and sewerage services from. This includes all businesses (large and small), schools, hospitals, charities, government and councils. This ability for customers to choose created more competition in the water industry, aiming to reduce prices, improve customer service and to improve water sustainability and resilience. To operate in this market, Yorkshire Water separated out its non-household retail function for business customers from its household and wholesale activities. The wholesale part of Yorkshire Water continues to provide wholesale water and waste water services to your business premises, with your retailer providing your customer services such as reading your meter, sending your bills and dealing with any questions or queries you may have.

On the 1 October 2019, Yorkshire Water exited from the retail part of the market and transferred the retail business customer accounts of Yorkshire Water Business Services to Scottish Water Business Stream.

For more information, including details of all licensed retailers and how to switch, go to the independent industry website Open Water or the website of our regulator Ofwat.

What does this mean to your business?

If you are a business customer and didn’t actively switch retailer, your account with Yorkshire Water Business Services will have been transferred to the retail licensee Scottish Water Business Stream on the 1 October 2019. If you chose at any time to switch to another retailer, their details will be on your bill and their website can be accessed here.

  1. The changes only apply to non-household premises. If your premises are used for business and you pay or are exempt from business rates, you will be eligible to be part of the competitive water retail market. If your premises are for mixed use, but the primary use is for business purposes, or the household use of the premises depends on the non-household activity, your premises are very likely to be eligible to be in the market.

  2. If you would like more information on how to switch or find out who are licensed retailers, you can find this on the Open Water website.

  3. The wholesale part of Yorkshire Water will continue to be responsible for providing, operating and maintaining the physical water and waste water assets and services. These include the collection, treatment and distribution of water to your premises and the subsequent collection, treatment and disposal of waste water from them.

    If you experience a potential public health issue (e.g. taste, odour or discolouration of your water, or sewer flooding) please continue to contact the wholesale part of Yorkshire Water directly on 0345 1 24 24 24 who will investigate and manage the problem. For any other matters please contact your retailer, whose number will be on your latest bill.