Chief Executive’s Foreword
On behalf of the Commission, I am pleased to introduce our Draft Determination on water and wastewater charges for 2027 to 2033.
This is an important moment for Scotland’s water industry. Scottish Water’s services are essential to our daily lives, our environment and our economy. The assets we rely on today have been built over generations, and the decisions we take now will shape how reliable, resilient and affordable those services remain in the years ahead.
Scottish Water is publicly owned, commercially run and independently regulated. That distinctive model gives WICS the opportunity to understand the company in depth, while maintaining our independence to enable us to challenge, make judgements on behalf of customers and hold the company to account.
In the last Strategic Review of Charges, we set indicative charges for 2027 to 2033 so Scotland could move gradually towards delivering the long term vision for the industry. By making steady and predictable progress, Scotland has avoided sudden charge increases for customers, and this continues to be recognised as a strength.
At the heart of this Draft Determination is a clear principle. If customers are asked to contribute more, there must be strong and transparent evidence to support that request. We have challenged Scottish Water to demonstrate that every investment is necessary, efficient and deliverable, and that it has done everything possible to manage costs before asking customers to pay more.
Customer views have been central throughout this process. Working with Scottish Water and Consumer Scotland, we have strengthened how customers can inform and influence decisions. It is encouraging to see how engaged customers become when they understand the service and the costs involved. We are also grateful for the engagement and insights provided by the quality regulators, SEPA and DWQR.
The Commission recognises the quality of Scottish Water’s Business Plan, the depth of customer engagement and the detailed analysis carried out by the WICS team. Together, this has enabled a Draft Determination that supports essential investment, strengthens protections for customers and enables WICS to hold Scottish Water to account for delivery.
David Satti, Chief Executive