These pages introduce the water supply licensing regime for

• business customers,
• licensees and
• appointed water companies. 

You can also read our water supply licensing publications for more information, and find the contact details of water supply licensees.

Potential licensees 

If you are a potential licensee and want to find out more about making an application, please fill in the enquiry form. We can tell you what information you need to put together a good application. If you still have questions about new competition opportunities, you can contact us by e-mailing WSL query or by telephoning 0121 644 7520.  

Background

On 1 December 2005, it became possible for non-household customers who are likely to use at least 50 megalitres (Ml) of water a year at each premises to choose their water supplier from a range of new companies. If you think you may be eligible to choose your water supplier, please contact us or the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater). We can help you work out if you are eligible and give you information on the opportunities available. New companies can supply water to eligible customers once they have a licence from us. They can do so in one of two ways.

• A retail licence – a water supply licence to purchase a wholesale supply of water from an appointed water company and use its supply system to deliver water to customers’ premises.
• A combined licence – to deliver water to eligible customers through an appointed water company’s supply system.

Existing water companies who are appointed under WIA91 can compete by setting up associate companies. Their licence will allow them to operate anywhere in England and Wales, except in the supply region of their associate water company.  

We have powers to consider queries and make determinations about some aspects of the water supply licensing regime. For more information about this, please see our water supply licensing determinations procedure.

Access to water supply 

Licensees need access to appointed water companies’ supply systems to supply their customers. All appointed water companies have to comply with our guidance on providing access by developing access codes that follow our guidance and template, and publishing indicative access prices. They must also deal fairly with licensees’ applications for access.