Covid-19 Repayment Schemes extended until 30 June

Ofwat has extended the period during which retailers in the business market must offer Covid-19 Repayment Schemes to non household customers. This requires retailers to provide customers with a payment plain tailored to their individual needs.

The requirement ran until 31 March, but in light of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown which sees all legal limits on social contact lifted by 21 June at the earliest, Ofwat last week extended the period in which retailers can put customers onto a Covid-19 Repayment Scheme until 30 June.

It added: “There is nothing to prevent retailers from continuing to operate a Covid-19 repayment scheme for customers beyond this date.”

Relatedly, the requirement for retailers to submit monthly reports to Ofwat and CCWater, relating to the customer uptake of repayment plans and debt recovery action, was also extended until 30 June.

Ofwat also confirmed Market Performance Standard charges will resume from 1 April 2021, with invoices to wholesalers and retailers commencing from May 2021.