Essex and Suffolk Water - Business Water Supplier Review

Essex and Suffolk Water are just one of the business water suppliers that have to contend with the newly deregulated market. Ofwat, the regulator that established rules for water suppliers, deregulated the market on the 1st of April 2017.

Before the market was deregulated, one commercial water supplier dominated each region in the UK. Business owners had no choice but to accept the unit rates set out by that supplier. Now, business owners can choose from a range of water suppliers.

The deregulation of the market has given businesses more options than ever before. Big-name water suppliers have come under scrutiny for things like services, customer service ratings, and environmental programmes.

Introduction to Essex and Suffolk Water

Essex and Suffolk Water is a relative newcomer to the water market. This commercial water supplier was first founded in 1994 and had headquarters in Durham. Despite being a newcomer, Essex and Suffolk Water serves a total population of 1.8 million people.

Essex and Suffolk Water business water customers can expect high-quality freshwater services. Only a few areas are also supplied with wastewater services. Lots of customers have to refer to either Thames Water or Anglian Water for sewage services.

This supplier does not provide prospective customers with a lot of context on the website. Instead, it refers to the values of its parent company, Northumbrian Water Group. This water supplier pledges to support customers ‘however you’re living’.

Essex and Suffolk Water have a range of eco-friendly programmes in place that aims to reduce plastic consumption and protect the environment. It has over 1,000 Refill Stations across the country to reduce single-use plastics. People all over the UK can travel to Refill Stations and access clean, freshwater.

Northumbrian Water Group is also a large proponent of The Ripple Effect. It believes that social responsibility has a large part to play in water sustainability. Northumbrian Water Group has created and distributed a range of films, interactive games, and activities in schools to educate 8 to 11-year-olds about The Ripple Effect.

Essex and Suffolk Water Commercial Water Services

Essex and Suffolk Water business water services could be more transparent. Prospective business customers have to click through lots of links to find relevant information, even on the main wholesale services page. Customers can call a number (0345 604 0193) or email a representative ([email protected]), but lots of business owners prefer finding clear, concise information online before investing more time in their search.

This supplier does not provide wastewater services to all of its areas. Instead, it focuses on supplying non-domestic customers in the UK with clean fresh water. Essex and Suffolk Water supply 2.7 million people in the North East of England. Northern areas include Tyneside, Wearside, Teeside, and large rural areas in Northumberland and County Durham. Customers in the Hartlepool area can also access wastewater services.

Down South, Essex and Suffolk Water supplies non-domestic customers in Essex areas such as Chelmsford, Southend, the London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and Redbridge. Around 300,000 people in rural Suffolk also rely on this supplier for freshwater services.

Commercial water customers can also request a standpipe. Standpipes connect existing water supplies to areas that do not have a water supply. Essex and Suffolk Water sell standpipes that attach to wash out hydrants.

Essex and Suffolk Water also offer non-domestic customers a commercial meter reading service. The company sends representatives to non-domestic sites all over the UK to read meters.

Essex and Suffolk Water Business Water Reviews

Given that Essex and Suffolk Water is one of the newer suppliers in the water market, it is important to consider customer service support. Sites such as Trustpilot prove to be an invaluable source of research for prospective customers. Trustpilot allows existing customers to leave real-time, impartial feedback about their experiences.

Overall, Essex and Suffolk Water business water customers are happy with the services they receive. This supplier has 4.3/5 stars on Trustpilot and an overall rating of excellent. 65% of customers think that the services are excellent, whereas 29% of customers think that the services are bad. Excellent reviews mention quick responses and resolutions, whereas negative reviews mention constant letters and long wait times.

A representative from Essex and Suffolk Water replies to some, but not all, comments. This suggests that the supplier tries to be responsive, but fails to be consistent. Consistency is an important consideration for established business owners who have a reputation in their communities.

Essex and Suffolk Water Average Business Water Prices

It is no secret that commercial water consumers are always looking for the lowest unit rates possible. Reduced unit rates can make a big difference, especially for businesses that use thousands of litres of water per year.

Essex and Suffolk Water business water customers will struggle to find relevant information about unit prices on the website. Prospective customers have to travel through the help section to find domestic charges and then scroll down and select ‘Other Service Charges 2022-2023’ to find information about non-domestic charges.

This commercial water supplier charges businesses a fixed charge of £50.06 per day for water from NWL depots. It has also a fixed volumetric charge per cubic meter of £1.4907.

Business owners can also find pricing information for a lot of other services in this document. We also encourage business owners to browse through our Waste Water Reduction Checklist to reduce consumption and save money.

Why Switch Commercial Water Suppliers?

Thousands of business owners across the UK are unhappy with their current fresh water and wastewater suppliers. Problems range from large leaks to poor customer support and even billing errors.

Here are some of the reasons why commercial water consumers seek new suppliers.

• Socially responsible practices - Social responsibility is more important than ever. With increasingly worrying reports about global warming, it is our responsibility to band together and makes positive changes for the environment. Lots of water suppliers have taken this message to heart and invested their time and money into eco-friendly programmes.
• Reduced rates - The number one reason why business owners switch suppliers is to secure lower rates. If large business owners lower their water unit rate by one penny they could save thousands of pounds over the course of a year. And with more competition than ever, business water suppliers are only too happy to offer new customers reduced rates.
• Long fixed contracts - Not every business owner wants to secure a long-term contract. Startup and growing business owners might prefer the flexibility that comes with short-term, one-year contracts. We recommend fixed deals for business owners who are confident in the amount of water their premises uses each year. By securing a fixed contract, business owners can lock in reasonable rates for three or even five years.
• Compare services - Some business owners might just want to survey the market. The ability to research Essex and Suffolk Water’s business water services is relatively new and can show business owners how their supplier stacks up.
• Better customer support - Customer support is second-only to unit rates. Lots of business owners search for new suppliers to secure better customer service support. With review sites such as Trustpilot giving prospective customers real-time insights into customer satisfaction, more and more water suppliers are investing in effective customer service support.

How to Switch Business Water Suppliers?

Switching commercial water suppliers is a novel, new option for business owners who are unhappy with their existing suppliers. Having only had the option to switch in recent years, lots of business owners are still confused about the process.

We work with small, medium, and large businesses all over the UK. Our experts have invested time and energy into creating a comprehensive business energy comparison engine. They have loaded all the best suppliers and deals into the generator. Business owners can simply plug in their details, wait a minute, and choose from a list of suppliers.

Visit our business water page for more information.