Ofwat and Ofgem are independent economic regulators for the water and energy markets in Britain. Both regulators aim to protect consumers, ensure fair pricing, promote efficient and reliable services, and encourage long-term investment in infrastructure. Despite the alignment in their goals, Ofgem and Ofwat have taken notably divergent approaches in several areas that impact consumers... The post Ofwat vs Ofgem: Comparing the approach of utility regulators appeared first on AquaSwitch ..read more

Artificial intelligence can transform the utilities sector through automation, predictive analytics, and more intelligent decision-making. In 2024, we are only beginning to realise its transformative potential. AI systems excel in specialised environments with vast amounts of real-time data that can be used to train models through machine learning. The proliferation of smart sensors across the... The post AI Adoption in the British Water Industry appeared first on AquaSwitch ..read more

In the energy market, the idea of exporting electricity to the grid is very common. Businesses can purchase commercial solar panels and sell surplus electricity to the grid through the Smart Export Guarantee scheme. The British water industry is on the verge of allowing businesses to sell drinkable water into the local water network. Businesses... The post Water abstraction | Sell your excess water appeared first on AquaSwitch ..read more

The rollout of smart water meters across the British water network is underway, opening up the possibility of smart water tariffs that actively encourage responsible water usage. The rising block tariff for water supplies is the first example of the water industry adopting smart tariffs. Limited trials of rising block tariffs are currently being conducted... The post Rising Block Tariffs | The first smart water tariff appeared first on AquaSwitch ..read more

Fertiliser pollution poses a significant threat to the health of the UK’s rivers, with 70% of nitrogen and 25% of phosphorus in UK waters attributed to agricultural runoff. The idyllic River Wye has become a globally renowned case where nutrient runoff from intensive poultry farming has led to severe ecological damage, including a 90% loss in its Ranunculus weed beds and severe declines in fish species like Salmon. This article delves into the complexities of fertiliser pollution, examining its sources, impacts, and the efforts to mitigate its effects, using the River Wye as our main case stud ..read more

The principal idea behind the deregulated business water industry is that private companies can apply for a retail licence and compete with other suppliers to offer water services. Without business water suppliers, water companies are a natural monopoly, compelling customers to pay water bills issued by their local water company. Introducing competition among suppliers enhances service levels and helps keep prices low. Unfortunately, a natural by-product of competition is that underperforming suppliers may go bust. In this article, we cover everything you need to know about business water supp ..read more

Sizewell C is the second nuclear power station to be constructed in the UK since 1995. It will add about 25,000 GWh of electricity to the national grid (~8% of national annual consumption) using the latest generation of EPR reactors, which are safer, cleaner, and more efficient than any of its predecessors. Construction is due to begin as early as 2024. However, significant delays and excessive costs at Hinkley Point C (another UK nuclear power station currently under construction) are leaving Sizewell in an awkward position. This is not only because Sizewell is a near-exact replica but also b ..read more

As businesses evolve, the need often arises to move premises, whether for upscaling, downscaling, or adopting a hybrid working model. But what happens to your business utilities? We’ve prepared a straightforward checklist to help you avoid overpaying for energy and water during the transition between properties. Moving business premises | business utilities checklist Our business utilities experts outline the key actions for arranging your business utilities, at different parts of the move process: Before your move date During the move After your move When you have a fixed move date secured ..read more

“The most recent wastewater discharge data indicates that Thames Water diverted sewage directly into the River Mole for 920 hours in 2023. This is equivalent to 38 days, or almost 10% of the year.” Over the past decade, the British water industry has been sleepwalking into murky waters. A growing proportion of domestic sewage produced in our towns and cities is not being treated but instead discharged directly into the nearest river. According to the Environment Agency, there were over 464,000 storm overflow sewage discharges into rivers and seas in 2023 in England alone. Using the Environment ..read more

In today’s business landscape, energy efficiency isn’t just an environmental responsibility—it’s a strategic move to significantly reduce costs. This article unveils five low-cost, high-impact tips designed to reduce your gas and electricity consumption. We’ve backed each recommendation with facts and figures from scientific research to demonstrate the savings you can expect. Each of our tips will result in lower business energy bills, but we’ve also included the compromises and costs required to implement each. Our five business energy efficiency tips are: Reduce boiler flow temperature Impr ..read more