Providers 'should offer more competitive rates' for business water

07/04/2010

The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) has called for more competitive rates for business water.

Last week, uSwitch released figures showing that business water rates depended on a "postcode lottery".

Some areas are hit with 3.5 per cent price hikes on water rates despite an average nationwide decrease of 0.76 per cent in water and sewerage.

The CCW said that businesses should be the testing ground for a potential opening-up of the market for all consumers.

Dave Thompson, the CCW's head of public relations, said: "Our view is that there should be a lot more competition in the business side of things, so businesses should be able to switch."

Although companies can currently choose which provider supplies their business water, few firms decide to change because they cannot "see the price benefits", Mr Thompson said.

He added that if it were possible to see the benefits for businesses in the future, then more information could be acquired about how to relay those benefits to the domestic market too.

Posted by Dan Morris