Lords debate retail exit regulations

The House of Lords debated the retail exit regulations yesterday afternoon. The regulations are due for debate in the Commons on Thursday.

Having been through two rounds of consultation and having achieved broad consensus among stakeholders, the regulations are expected to be smoothly approved by Parliament. That being the case, they are scheduled to come into force on 3 October 2016. Companies will be able to start applying for exit that day.

The regulations are secondary legislation necessary to enact the parts of the Water Act relating to incumbents leaving the business retail market.

Companies may choose to exit entirely or to transfer their customers to an associated licensee so their non household customers in and out of area can be looked after together.