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UTILITY WEEK | 18TH - 24TH DECEMBER 2015 | 27 Markets & Trading MOSL was set up by United Utilities, Anglian Water and Northumbrian Water and came together when the previous programme delivery body, Open Water Markets Limited (OWML), was wound down by Ofwat. This happened at the end of 2014 aer the government decided to classify OWML as a public body – which would have hampered its ability to quickly procure the central IT systems. The companies formed the body to help deliver the Open Water programme, and to procure the central IT systems (the contract was awarded to CGI) with the presumption that it would go on to become the market operator aer April 2017. Fast forward a year from its foundation at the end of 2014, and MOSL is nearing the end of its mass recruitment drive. In has come inaugural chief executive and utility veteran Ben Jeffs, and his top team features a mix of experience from water, energy, and the public sector. Some of the experience built up in OWML has transferred across – such as Martin Silcock, director of market services, and Jim Rickleton, director of finance – while new blood has also come in. Director of market engagement Tom Notman and director of delivery Mark Salisbury have come from the energy distribution and water sector respectively. Jeffs brings 25 years' experience in the utili- ties sector, including senior leadership roles in both regulated and non-regulated businesses, having spent his early career with British Gas, Transco and National Grid. MOSL has largely got the plans for opening the market in place, with work on the "must haves" underway. The next step for Jeffs and his team is to begin work on the enduring market – beyond April 2017. He told Utility Week that, alongside implementing the plans in place to get the market open on time, next few months will see the plan for post-market opening being drawn up. Meet the customer: Crown Paints Crown Paints has been manufacturing in the UK for more than 200 years and in 2014 used 87,000m 3 of water at its headquarters in Darwen, Lancashire, and its manufacturing site in Hull. The company also has 130 decorating centres across the UK and Ireland. In 2008, it launched its Earthbalance sustainability programme, with a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent by 2020. The focus reduce its environmental impact is being extended in 2016 to include water reduction. Price is not the driver, although increasing water efficiency and reducing consumption will mean a lower water bill, which will be an important factor when choosing supplier. The company told Utility Week it expected its water supplier to be "a respon- sible business that isn't just interested in selling us as much as it can. "We want a supplier to become a partner," it said. Key milestones next quarter MOSL Market Services to be fully resourced and active – 4/12/2015. Market and company readiness plan published – 16/12/2015. Systems requirements phase 2 signed off – 21/12/2015. New articles of association in place – 29/01/2016. Market report to Ofwat/Defra – 29/01/2016. Assurance letter (planning) to be delivered – 19/02/2016. MOSL 2016/17 budget to be approved – 29/02/2016. Central market system functional design to be signed off – 24/03/2016. Plan for enduring panel – 25/03/2016. Design and build phase due to be com- pleted – 31/03/2016. stones – as well as other milestones and programmes of work – need to be completed. However, there have already been a few tweaks to this tight timeframe. The timing of when the guaranteed ser- vice standard (GSS) regulations will be heard in parliament has been "moved to later in the plan", to March 2017, to align it with other elements of the programme, such as when the retail exits code and interim supply codes are issued. The other work streams being carried out in the Open Water programme will not be affected. However, there could be problems if any substantial changes to the GSS regu- lations are made by MPs or peers because this would give companies next to no time to alter their plans. Despite these changes, MOSL and its chief executive, Ben Jeffs, remain bullish that the programme will remain on track to be successfully delivered by April 2017. Source: Ofwat Profile: Market Operator Services Limited (MOSL) Other key developments covered in the report focus on: the assurance regime; the technical readiness of incumbent water companies; ensuring there is a level play- ing field; how Ofwat intends to encourage customers to shop around; and suggests four models that water companies can adopt for competition – aggressive, defensive, coun- terattacking or complete exit – depending on whether they perceive the new order as chiefly a threat of an opportunity. MOSL STRUCTURE CEO Head of Programme PA Workstream PMs x 3 Programme Office x 2 HR Lead Comms Lead Portfolio Managers x 5 Market Adviser x 2 CTO/Solutions Architect Web Developer Market Operations Test Lead Comms Analyst Commercial Analyst Market Analyst x 5 Data Lead Regulatory Manager Market Analyst x 5 HR Assistant Service Operations Lead Service Operations Analysts x 6 Market Services Director Market Design Authority Lead Market Engagement Director Delivery Director Key n Permanent n Recruitment n Secondee n Contract n Deferred Vendor Manager Commercial Analyst Finance Director Finance Consultant Ongoing transitional support from UU & F2K procurement teams For more information about Utility Week Intel- ligence and how to access its premium content, go to: www.utilityweekintelligence.co.uk