Detail
RAPID, established in 2019, is the Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development. We are a partnership of three water regulators: Ofwat, the Environment Agency (EA) and the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI). Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is involved in an advisory capacity and has a decision-making role for any strategic water resource solutions involving Wales, Welsh policy and legislation. RAPID's November 2023 consultation 'Enabling new water resources – a consultation on commercial arrangements'1 built on our 2021 consultation2, and set out our further thinking and assessment of policy options on commercial frameworks, specifically in relation to commercial/contractual models including bulk supply water transfer agreements (BSAs) and associated policy, such as charging. The consultation closed on 20 March 2024 and this document provides a high-level summary of the consultation responses we received and our next steps on the policy proposals. A broad analysis has been made of the key issues raised, including (where appropriate) a numerical estimate of support for the proposals and the breakdown of responses by interest group.