The Strategic Panel, the most senior governance group in the non-household water retail market, has published its Annual Report for 2025/26, outlining the work undertaken over the year to support improved outcomes for non-household water customers and drive progress towards a thriving and sustainable non-household water market.
Published alongside the Annual Report is the first full annual progress report against the Strategic Panel's Roadmap to a Flourishing Market. The assessment provides an evidence-based review of progress towards the Roadmap's vision of a more competitive non-household water market that delivers better outcomes for customers, strengthens market resilience and supports environmental sustainability.
The Panel says the reports highlight a year of significant progress across the market, including:
- implementation of the reformed Market Performance Framework (MPF)
- continued improvements to customer protections
- the launch of Phase 1 of the Smart Meter Read Hub
- progress on shared data initiatives
- development of new approaches to support water efficiency.
The Roadmap progress report finds that delivery has accelerated over the past year, with 13 of the Roadmap's 34 actions delivered and under review, and a further 18 progressing on schedule. The assessment identifies tangible improvements in customer protections, operational performance, market resilience and environmental capability, while also highlighting areas where further progress is needed, including customer engagement, innovation enablers and smart meter deployment.
The Annual Report also sets out the Strategic Panel's wider work programme across water efficiency, shared data, settlement reform, market improvement initiatives and engagement on the Independent Water Commission review, Retail Exit Code (REC) review and wider government water reform agenda.
Commenting on publication of the reports, Trisha McAuley OBE, Independent Chair of the Strategic Panel, said:
"This year's annual report marks an important milestone for the Strategic Panel as we have also published our first comprehensive assessment of progress against our Roadmap to a Flourishing Market. While the assessment shows encouraging progress across a number of areas, it also highlights where further action and collaboration is needed to fully realise the market's potential.
"Important improvements can be seen in areas such as customer protections, market performance oversight and the foundations needed to support smarter and more efficient water use. However, there is more to do to strengthen customer engagement, improve resilience and accelerate the delivery of environmental outcomes.
"The progress outlined in these reports reflects the commitment and collaboration of organisations and individuals from across the market. While challenges remain, the foundations for a stronger, smarter and more sustainable market continue to be put in place, and I look forward to working with stakeholders over the coming year as we continue that journey."
The Strategic Panel will use the findings from the Roadmap assessment to consider potential updates to the Roadmap, ensuring it continues to reflect changes in the market, wider water sector and government policy. The Panel intends to publish an iterated Roadmap later this year.
Click here to download Strategic Panel Annual Report 2025-26
Click here to download Roadmap to a Flourishing Market - 2026 Progress Report
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