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THE BUSINESS OF UTILITIES Trusted by board level decision-makers for 20 years © Utility Week Intelligence | Windsor Court, Wood Street, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 1UZ | +44 (0)1342 332000 | www.utilityweekintelligence.co.uk Intelligence Report THE BUSINESS OF UTILITIES KEY rEforms • Introduction of competition for non-domestic customers in 2017 • The reform of the upstream market several years after retail competition • A new agreement governing the provision of insurance for flood-prone homes • A new duty for water regulator Ofwat to ensure "resilience" of water supply. KEY QUEsTIoNs • What impact will the reforms have on investor confidence? • How should water companies restructure in preparation for competition? • Why is abstraction reform taking so long? • How should water companies tackle bad debt? • What about the introduction of (smart) metering? CoNTENTs 2 About Utility Week Intelligence 3 Context 4 Key reforms 6 Key questions 10 Next steps September 2013 The 2013 Water Bill DEFRA published the final text of the 2013 Water Bill on 27th June. The Bill enacts several key reforms to the water sector, including the introduction of competition for non- domestic customers. It also paves the way for competition in the upstream market and enacts a new compromise agreement between various stakeholders over the provision of household insurance for homes in flood prone areas. The bill, which has been long in the making, has the general if muted support of the water industry. Some minor adjustments can be expected as it makes its way through the legislative process, but the key reform – the introduction of competition to the sector – has now been accepted. Of more concern to the industry is the detail around the introduction of upstream reform and the omission of various recommendations, for example around abstraction and tackling bad debt. Author Ellen Bennett ellen.bennett@fav-house.com Windsor Court, Wood Street, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 1UZ Windsor Court, Wood Street, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 1UZ Ready foR Retail? Research into water company preparations for retail competition Utility Week and Tata Consultancy Services REPORT Advertising: Ed Roberts +44 (0) 1342 332067 ed.roberts@fav-house.com Nicky Shaw +44 (0) 1342 332070 nicky.shaw@fav-house.com Subscriptions: www.utilityweek.co.uk/subscribe +44 (0) 208 955 7045 Conference sponsorship: Richard Powell +44 (0) 1342 332062 richard.powell@fav-house.com UW-A4filler.indd 1 18/03/2014 12:13