Compare and switch business water suppliers

Yes. Since April 2017, all non-household premises in England can choose their water retailer. In Scotland, the market has been open since 2008. The switch does not affect your physical water supply. Same pipes, same water. Only the retailer handling your billing and service changes.

You compare quotes from licensed retailers, choose the one you want, and sign a new contract. Your new retailer handles the transfer with your current one. The whole process takes two to three weeks. You do not need to contact your old supplier yourself, and there is no interruption to your water.

Two to three weeks from signing the new contract. Your new retailer coordinates the transfer with your existing one. No engineers visit, no meter changes, no supply interruption.

It depends on your current rates, consumption, and region. Businesses that have not switched since market opening are often still on default rates, which can be significantly higher than what is available on the open market. The only way to find out is to compare. Quotes are free and take a few minutes.

Rates change regularly and vary by region because wholesale charges differ between areas. A retailer that is cheapest in a Thames Water area might not be cheapest in a Severn Trent area. Comparing live quotes for your specific supply point is the only reliable way to find the best rate at any given time.

Yes. Scotland’s non-domestic water market has been open to competition since April 2008, nearly ten years before England. Businesses choose from retailers licensed by the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS). The process works the same way: compare rates, pick a retailer, they handle the switch.

SPID stands for Supply Point Identification Number. It is the unique reference for your water supply point, like an MPAN is for electricity. You will find it on your water bill. If you are comparing quotes, having your SPID speeds up the process, but we can look it up from your address if you do not have it.

The wholesaler owns and maintains the physical pipes and treatment works, companies like Thames Water, United Utilities, and Yorkshire Water. The retailer sits between the wholesaler and your business, handling billing, meter reading, and customer service. When you switch, you are changing retailer, not wholesaler. The infrastructure stays the same.

If you are using a broker or comparison service (like us), we will ask you to sign a letter of authority. It gives us permission to request quotes on your behalf and manage the switch process. It does not commit you to anything. It just lets us act on your behalf with the retailers. See our business water letter of authority guide for the full detail.

Trade effluent is wastewater produced by a commercial or industrial process, as distinct from domestic sewage. If your business produces trade effluent, you will need a consent from the wholesaler and may pay additional charges. This is separate from your standard water supply and sewerage charges.

Typically one to three years, though some retailers offer shorter or longer terms. Check the notice period in your existing contract before switching. If you are still in-term, you may need to wait for it to expire unless there is a break clause.

Water and sewerage services for most businesses are zero-rated for VAT. The exceptions are businesses in certain SIC codes including energy, mining, metals, chemicals, food manufacturing, textiles, and paper. If your business falls into one of those categories, VAT will be applied to your water bill.

Yes. Your postcode determines which wholesale region you are in, which in turn determines which retailers can serve you and what the underlying wholesale charges are. When you enter your postcode, we show you the retailers operating in your area with live rates for your supply point.

We run one. Enter your details and we pull live quotes from the retailers operating in your area. Unlike domestic comparison sites, business water comparison works on a quote basis because rates depend on your specific consumption and supply point. It takes a few minutes and there is no obligation.

Nothing. The physical supply does not change. Same pipes, same water pressure, same wholesaler maintaining the network. The only thing that changes is who sends you the bill and handles your account. The switch happens in the background and you will not notice any difference to your water.