The Water Act 2014 (Commencement No. 4 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2015

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order is the fourth commencement order made under the Water Act 2014 (c.21) (“the 2014 Act”).

Article 2 brings into force on 15th July 2015 provisions which set out the process by which the Water Services Regulation Authority (“Ofwat”) is to produce its charging rules. Article 2 also brings into force provisions which set out the procedure for making regulations setting standards of performance relating to water supply services provided by water supply licensees, and sewerage services provided by sewerage licensees.

Article 3 brings into force on 1st September 2015 provisions which set out the procedure Ofwat must follow when issuing rules about charges which may be levied by water and sewerage undertakers.

Article 4 brings into force on 1st November 2015 the remainder of section 16 (charges schemes) which removes the requirement for Ofwat pre-approval of water and sewerage undertakers’ charges schemes. However, undertakers will be required to make their charges schemes in accordance with rules which Ofwat may produce. The old procedure will continue to apply to undertakers’ charges schemes covering the 2015/16 charging period.

Article 5 contains transitional provisions.

An impact assessment of the effect that the 2014 Act will have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector is available from the Water Reform Team, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR or at www.gov.uk/defra. No separate impact assessment has been produced for this instrument.