Please note Brightwater is not participating in this scheme, a list of participating providers has been published by the industry regulator at www.scotlandontap.gov.uk
The Wholesale Charges Deferral Scheme (WCDS) is a temporary change to water and sewerage payment arrangements put in place by the regulator. Under the WCDS, qualifying businesses will be able to temporarily defer the payment of a proportion of their water and sewerage charges.
The scheme is currently expected to run to 24 September 2020, but may be extended to 31 December 2020, this will be confirmed in August 2020.
All deferred charges remain payable and will be repaid after the end / exit of the scheme
Deferral of wholesale volumetric charging
Under this scheme you can ask your provider to apply to Scottish Water for temporary deferral of the wholesale charge for water and wastewater consumption (otherwise known as volumetric charges).
This is available to qualifying customers supplied water and wastewater on a metered basis.
Deferral of wholesale fixed charging
In addition, if your business qualifies for deferral and have a meter size of 25mm or smaller, are unmetered, or supplied drainage services only can also apply for a deferral of 60% of the wholesale fixed charge.
- The standing meter charge for water and wastewater
- Unmeasured water and wastewater consumption
- Property and roads drainage
Charges for Trade Effluent do not qualify for deferral, however qualifying customers with Trade Effluent services can still apply for deferral of ‘standard’ services in line with the above.
Qualifying Businesses
Scottish Water will review each application and will look at the business type to ensure businesses who have not been affected by the pandemic (i.e. supermarkets, hospitals etc.) are not approved for the scheme.
Business types subject to restrictions or closure documented in The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020, Schedule 1 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/103/contents/made), may qualify for deferral.
The water industry regulator has advised that businesses which have not been forced to close, and may be trading successfully would not be eligible
Approved applications may also be re-reviewed by Scottish Water at a later date to ensure they have been approved correctly, those approved in error may be removed from the scheme.
Additional information on the scheme
Further information on the wholesale charge deferral scheme is available from the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (the industry regulator) at www.watercommission.co.uk
A copy of the letter issued to potentially affected customers on 10 July 2020 is available for download here