Developers may be able to choose to replace the existing local monopoly water and/or sewerage company at a particular site or premises with a “new appointee”.
New appointees can supply the site’s premises with water and/or sewerage services on an on-going basis and are responsible for the on-site infrastructure providing these services. They are appointed by us to serve a specific geographic area. You can ask any company to be your supplier, and it has to apply to us for an appointment to serve your site. New appointees can get water from their own source, or buy it wholesale from another water company; likewise, they can either treat sewage themselves or agree to discharge it into another company’s sewers.
Why do we have NAVs?
Developers may be able to choose to replace the existing local monopoly water and/or sewerage company at a particular site or premises with a “new appointee”. The new appointee would become the monopoly provider for that particular site.
To have a development connected to a NAV rather than an incumbent, you will have to contact a NAV and have the discussion. They will have to then apply to us for an appointment or a variation of their appointment in order to serve the site.
Qualifying criteria for a new appointment
The applicant must make sure that the proposed area of appointment (the site) meets one or more of the qualifying statutory criteria (see section 7(4) of the WIA91). Its application must set out which of the criteria are being relied on.
Ofwat may grant a new appointment or variation of appointment in cases where:
- an area does not contain any premises that receive services from an appointed water or sewerage company (it is unserved);
- the customer(s) uses (or is likely to use) at its premises at least 50 megalitres of water a year (if the area of the relevant appointee concerned is wholly or mainly in England) or 250 megalitres of water a year (if the area of the relevant appointed company concerned is wholly or mainly in England in Wales) and wants to change their supplier in respect of those premises (a large user); or
- the existing appointed company agrees to transfer part of its area to a different company (by consent).
Things to consider when choosing a new appointee
When you are choosing a new appointee you should consider the following:
- whether it can offer you any additional or multi-utility services and how promptly and efficiently it can provide those services
- how it is offering to manage your account
- what standards of service it is offering and what it will do if it fails to deliver the promised standards
- The price of the water and /or sewerage services.
What do you need to do to choose a new appointee?
Once you contact a company about your supply, it will need to apply to us to be appointed to your site or premises. We will make sure that you are eligible to switch to a new appointee, and that the new appointee has the resources to supply you with water or sewerage services or both.
Before we can make the appointment you will need to provide your proposed new appointee with a signed letter of consent confirming that you agree to the switch.
Which companies are new appointees?
The list of new appointees can be found here.
The register containing the details of new appointments and variations can be found here.
How long does it take?
We aim to make the new appointment within 85 working days of receiving a completed application from your proposed new appointee. This may take longer in some circumstances.
For more information, please see Application guidance for new appointments and variations in our table of relevant NAV publications.