South West Water has published its long-term vision for the period 2020-2050, outlining the water and wastewater service improvements the company plans to deliver in the coming years.
The document, entitled ‘WaterFuture: Our Vision 2020-2050’ sets out its updated long-term vision and also highlights some of the specific service levels the utility is proposing to achieve between 2020 and 2025, the upcoming AMP7 five year investment programme,
The document forms part of the company’s business-planning process and is being published ahead of the upcoming industry-wide Price Review in 2019.
More detailed business plans for the 2020-2025 period will be published next year for public consultation and subsequent assessment by Ofwat, the water industry’s economic regulator, which will then set price controls on company business plans and their associated revenues and charges.
Our Vision 2020-2050 sets out South West Water’s long-term ambitions across eight key business areas and explores how the company plans to stay resilient to future challenges such as population growth and the impacts of climate change.
Managing Director Stephen Bird commented:
“South West Water is already making major investments to improve services and deliver more of what matters most to our customers,” says.
“We also supply some of best drinking water quality in the UK, have achieved record bathing water quality in recent years, and have made huge steps forward in improving customer satisfaction. That said, there is still work to do, particularly in areas relating to the protection of the environment.”
“We’ve also been looking at new and innovative ways to improve services while keeping bills as low as possible, recognising that there are customers who struggle to pay. Our Vision to 2050 has been developed with the direct input of our customers – both households and businesses - and we would encourage people to have a read and discover more about the services they receive and what we hope to deliver for them in the future.”
The water company is now seeking customer and stakeholder feedback on the long-term vision to inform put its AMP7 business plan which will cover the five-year period 2020-2025.
Recent customer workshops and focus groups flagged up the price customers pay for services as the overarching priority the water company needs to consider when investing in other priority areas.
Next steps the Vision outlines for the 2020-25 period include targeting investment in those areas where South West Water risks failing any standard or where customers have reason to complain.
The utility said its innovative approach will make sure any new equipment is amongst the most advanced available and that it would respond to issues before they become a problem by continually improving the way it monitors systems and network of sewers.
Ensuring that extreme events such as flooding, storm events or cyber attack have no impact on the services customers receive are among its long-term aims for 2050.
The Vision says that South West Water will continue to improve its energy efficiency and increase renewable energy generation, with a long-term goal of generating 50% of its energy on site by 2050.
The utility is also planning to increase the number of households that are metered to ensure charges are as fair as possible for all.
In 2018 South West Water will submit its 2020-2025 combined business plan, covering both the South West and Bournemouth operating areas, to the water industry’s economic regulator, Ofwat.
South West Water is the combined entity serving the original South West Water and Bournemouth Water areas following the merger of the two companies in 2016. Both identities have been retained by the company in their original operating areas.
The water company said it is seeking feedback on the priorities and proposals contained in the document to ensure that the views of customers and stakeholders are kept central to its plans.
The Vision document is accompanied by three separate supporting papers on innovation, resilience and affordability.
Click here to download:
Our Vision 2020-2050 - Customer version (short overview)
Our Vision 2020-2050 - Full version
Supporting documents:
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