The Water Act 2014 (Commencement No. 9 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2017

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order is the ninth commencement order made under the Water Act 2014 (c.21) (“the 2014 Act”) in relation to England and Wales. This Order commences various provisions of the 2014 Act amending the Water Industry Act 1991 (c.56) (“the 1991 Act”).

Article 2 brings into force on 30th March 2017 provisions which allow the Water Services Regulation Authority (“Ofwat”) to issue codes in respect of agreements under sections 66D and 117E of the 1991 Act.

Article 3 brings into force on 1st April 2017 provisions relating to the new licensing regime for water supply and sewerage services to non-household customers.

Articles 4 and 5 bring into force on 1st October 2017 and 1st April 2018 respectively provisions introducing codes from Ofwat about agreements under sections 51A and 104 of the 1991 Act and charging rules from Ofwat about the charges that developers and other customers pay water and sewerage undertakers for new connections and other infrastructure services.

Articles 6 to 13 contain transitional provisions relating to water supply licensing.

Articles 14 and 15 contain transitional provisions relating to Ofwat’s charging rules.

Article 16 makes an amendment to the Water Act 2014 (Commencement No. 6, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/465 (C.26)).

Impact assessments of the effect that the 2014 Act will have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector are available from the Water Services Team, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR and are published alongside the 2014 Act at www.legislation.gov.uk. No separate impact assessment has been produced for this instrument.