Thames commits to provide access to business meter data in Competition Act case

Ofwat has proposed accepting formal commitments offered by Thames Water in the competition case it has been investigating regarding Thames’ smart meter rollout in the business market.

Ofwat has investigated Thames following complaints that it had:

• installed smart meters that were incompatible with data logging devices used by retailers and third-party providers;

• removed other parties' data logging devices when replacing meters with new digital smart meters; and

• failed to offer access to data from its smart meters to retailers and third-party providers on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.

Thames has offered formal commitments under the Competition Act 1998 which, Ofwat said, will address these concerns. Thames has proposed commitments to introduce technology that enables its smart meters to have attached logging equipment. This, Thames said, will ensure that its data services to retailers and third-party providers are provided on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.

It has stopped proactively replacing meters that have logging equipment attached until this technology is introduced, and has committed to improve how it engages with retailers and third-party providers – to improve its understanding of, and response to, their needs and to ensure it fully considers its impacts on markets when making decisions.

A final decision will follow after the consultation closes on 22 June.