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Water Act 2014

Chapter 1: Water supply licences and sewerage licences (sections 1 to 7 and Schedules 1 to 5)

5.This Chapter focuses on expansion of the water supply licensing (WSL) regime, introduction of sewerage licences and the creation of a cross-border retail market between England and Wales and Scotland.

6.The Act amends the WIA by expanding and revising the current WSL regime and adding a sewerage licensing regime. It also increases choice in the retail market by enabling earlier repeal of the threshold which sets the water usage limit for when non-household customers can switch supplier. This will allow all business, charity and public sector customers to choose their water and sewerage supplier for the first time, and enable multi-site operators to tender for one supplier across Great Britain.

7.To facilitate a cross-border retail market between England and Wales and Scotland the Act amends the WIA and equivalent Scots Law. This will allow Ofwat and the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) to accept a single application for water and sewerage licences in each jurisdiction.

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