Do you want to be able to choose your water company?

jimjames

mcb1 wrote: »

This doesnt happen with gas and electric!!!

It does happen with gas & electric. Why do you think you have to specify area when you get quotes.

renarichards wrote: »

i pay twice as much here in hastings as i did in harrow for my water - i would welcome the competition, and am amazed that it is still allowed to have a monopoly - why???????
regards, rena

That price difference would still exist and be no different. Same as regional variations for other services.

antbarson wrote: »

Yes, I think this is a great idea. I'm on a meter and am careful with my spend, so to compare who would charge me the least would be awesome.

You can do that now if you want. However to get that lower price you need to move house to that supplier's area. That won't change with competition.

Overall it's a completely pointless exercise, exactly as already mentioned a great deal for IT suppliers who will be the only ones to gain.

Former_MSE_Andrea

Hi everyone!

We've just published a news story on this:

Water customers 'could switch suppliers,' Ofwat proposes

TanyaG

I've just gone through the hassle of finding a cheaper energy supplier for myself, and for my Dad who can't do it himself, and switching us over. Do I want to do it for our water supply too? No, I don't!!

I don't believe we get a better service from the various energy suppliers we've had since we changed to a competitive market. And I know that some people, the elderly in particular, get a much worse deal. If I didn't check my Dad's supplier and change him on to a cheaper deal every few years then he'd be paying a lot more than he needs to. I don't believe we'd get a better service from water suppliers just by allowing us to choose a provider.

I don't believe increased choice always means increased quality. In the case of energy supply I believe increased choice has led to increased hassle but no improvement of service. I don't believe increased choice has led to cheaper prices either. I don't pay any less for the additional choice I now have. I think the same would be true if I was able to choose a water supplier: no real difference in quality and cost but a significant increase in hassle.

I also believe it's immoral that those of us who have the time and resources (i.e. a computer with internet access) can access cheaper tariffs than those who do not. I don't believe it's fair that I get a cheaper tariff than my elderly neighbour who can't afford a computer and broadband and who doesn't know how to use them.

So, no, I don't want the hassle of searching through a long list of water suppliers every year to see whether I'm getting a good deal, and having the hassle of changing between suppliers every few years. And having the hassle of having to do it for my Dad too.

What I would like is a high quality service from my current water supplier. With an assurance that I'm not paying more than I should for that service. And evidence that any profits made are used to improve the service, renew old infrastructure, etc. In fact that's what I thought Ofwat's job was....and that's what I'd like to see Ofwat doing.

gatita

TanyaG wrote: »

I've just gone through the hassle of finding a cheaper energy supplier for myself, and for my Dad who can't do it himself, and switching us over. Do I want to do it for our water supply too? No, I don't!!

I don't believe we get a better service from the various energy suppliers we've had since we changed to a competitive market. And I know that some people, the elderly in particular, get a much worse deal. If I didn't check my Dad's supplier and change him on to a cheaper deal every few years then he'd be paying a lot more than he needs to. I don't believe we'd get a better service from water suppliers just by allowing us to choose a provider.

I don't believe increased choice always means increased quality. In the case of energy supply I believe increased choice has led to increased hassle but no improvement of service. I don't believe increased choice has led to cheaper prices either. I don't pay any less for the additional choice I now have. I think the same would be true if I was able to choose a water supplier: no real difference in quality and cost but a significant increase in hassle.

I also believe it's immoral that those of us who have the time and resources (i.e. a computer with internet access) can access cheaper tariffs than those who do not. I don't believe it's fair that I get a cheaper tariff than my elderly neighbour who can't afford a computer and broadband and who doesn't know how to use them.

So, no, I don't want the hassle of searching through a long list of water suppliers every year to see whether I'm getting a good deal, and having the hassle of changing between suppliers every few years. And having the hassle of having to do it for my Dad too.

What I would like is a high quality service from my current water supplier. With an assurance that I'm not paying more than I should for that service. And evidence that any profits made are used to improve the service, renew old infrastructure, etc. In fact that's what I thought Ofwat's job was....and that's what I'd like to see Ofwat doing.

Tanya, I doubt very much that you live in the South West! We pay outrageous water and sewerage bills, the highest in the country. You tell me how this is fair....

badmemory

gatita wrote: »

Tanya, I doubt very much that you live in the South West! We pay outrageous water and sewerage bills, the highest in the country. You tell me how this is fair....

And that is not going to change - it will just be your new supplier paying your old supplier for the same service you used to pay them direct for. The only difference will be your new supplier getting a discount for paying for say 10k people in bulk instead of those 10k people paying individually. That is why the savings are only going to be £6 to £8 PER YEAR.

Then if you have a problem with the actual water (not your account) you will STILL have to contact your original supplier.

TanyaG

You're right gatita, I don't live in the south west. However a poor water supply service in one part of the country is not a good reason to move the whole country on to a system where we all have to continually switch water supplier.

It sounds to me like Ofwat should be doing more in the south west to improve the service there. It seems to me that the problem with water supply in the UK is Ofwat. It appears to have little inclination, or no powers, to perform the service that customers expect it to do. Rather than dodging the issue by introducing 'competition' and giving us more 'choice' and 'freedom', it should be putting it's house in order. It should be working with the government to ensure it has the necessary powers and capability to make a difference in the water supply sector in England.

Cardew

TanyaG wrote: »

You're right gatita, I don't live in the south west. However a poor water supply service in one part of the country is not a good reason to move the whole country on to a system where we all have to continually switch water supplier.

It sounds to me like Ofwat should be doing more in the south west to improve the service there. It seems to me that the problem with water supply in the UK is Ofwat. It appears to have little inclination, or no powers, to perform the service that customers expect it to do. Rather than dodging the issue by introducing 'competition' and giving us more 'choice' and 'freedom', it should be putting it's house in order. It should be working with the government to ensure it has the necessary powers and capability to make a difference in the water supply sector in England.

It is not that the service in the South West is poor, it is just so expensive! I posted this earlier in this thread:

Yes of course it is unfair on the South West customers, however you need to go back to Maggie's government era to lay the blame.

They sold off a largely Victorian water/sewerage industry to private investors and allowed them to charge customers to modernise and run the systems. The South West with a large area and lots of beaches, the costs are huge and there is a relatively small population to pay those costs.

tomthered

Well Ofwat, it would seem the general consensus is NO, for a magnificent saving of £6 per year we do not want to switch. The problem you have has been outlined above.

South West have lots of beaches to maintain so costs are high, other companies have less infrastructure so pay less as their customer base could be high. When it was nationalised the costs were shared throughout the country, a fairer way methinks, but I suspect whatever we say you will go ahead with this daft idea. As you said first off, the only way of saving is by having a reduced billing cost, hence why the savings are so small.

The other thing to consider are the vulnerable, mentally ill and disabled in society. In the water industry you cannot switch off a domestic customer, so if you dont pay you cannot be switched off, unlike electric and gas where they can terminate supply for non payers.

Robisere

Have not read all the posts here, but my simple answer to the original OP question is NO. I am quite happy with my water company.

gatita

Well you are obviously NOT with S.West Water!!