Are you ready for the open water market?
3 top tips to get your business prepared
In only 3 short months, England’s non-domestic water market will open, meaning that all businesses will be able to choose both their water and waste water supplier.
Multi-site businesses that have great relationships with their supplier in one region will be also able to consolidate all sites under that supplier, as regional restrictions will no longer exist. Between now and then, savvy businesses will be ensuring that they are prepped and ready to get the most benefit from the open market. Here are our three top tips to get your business prepared:
- Cleanse your water data
When April 1st 2017 arrives, your business could benefit from having an accurate insight into its water usage. How much you use, where you use it, what it is costing, and whether you are missing any important information. Not only will this ensure that your business water contract is placed correctly across one or multiple sites, it will also help you to prioritise exactly what you need from your supplier in terms of their service promise. A professional water audit can help you to achieve this, and can also ensure that your water account has a clean bill of health. Now is the perfect time to check for leaks and other potentially costly problems (we can help you, find out how). Which leads us onto our second tip…
- Understand the bigger efficiency picture
The open water market is just one part of a wider sustainability puzzle for England and provides a perfect opportunity for businesses to take a closer look at their water efficiency measures, discover where improvements could be made and uncover the associated savings.
Once you’ve taken a good look at your data and fully understand your usage, it’s time to put that understanding to good use. The new open market could mean a significantly reduced administrative burden for businesses who consolidate supply across different regions. Add this to the savings you make through water efficiency, and the accumulative cost savings could mean a real difference to your bottom line.
- List your priorities
When the market opens next April, a range of new licensed water companies will join the market; with new-entrants competing alongside larger, more established providers. However, the discounts which each of these providers will offer is unlikely to vary significantly. When the time comes to stick or switch, take time to think about what you really want from your water services supplier. Choosing a supplier with a great customer service track record is a good place to start. From there, why not make a list of what would benefit your business: look for online account management capabilities, a dedicated account manager, flexible payment options and proven expertise within your sector. If you can get your water and wastewater services covered by a supplier you can trust and all on one bill across all sites, it will simplify management of this aspect of your business, leaving you free to concentrate on other things.
Get in touch
We hope you’ve found the information contained on this page helpful. If you have any queries or would like to know more about the open water market and how your water services will change, please get in touch on sales@sesbusinesswater.co.uk or call us on 0203 750 9300.
If you would like to register your interest in switching your services to SES Business Water after April 1st 2017, let us know now and we’ll do the rest. Simply complete the form.