Water and Sewerage Undertakers (Exit from Non-household Retail Market) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 744 of 2016).

These Regulations, made under various sections of the Water Act 2014, require water and sewerage undertakers whose area is wholly or mainly in England to apply to the Secretary of State for permission to exit the non-household retail market for that area. The function of supplying water to non-household premises or providing sewerage services to non-household premises is specified for the purposes of section 42(4) of the Water Act 2014. An exit application must provide the relevant undertaker’s reasons for wanting to withdraw from the non-household retail market. The Regulations specify various other requirements for exit applications. A relevant undertaker that has permission to withdraw from the non-household retail market may make one or more schemes for the transfer of property, rights or liabilities from it to an acquiring licensee. A relevant undertaker is prohibited from supplying water or providing sewerage services to non-household premises in a retail exit area at any time on or after the exit date. The Regulations also define duties of acquiring licensees (including the duty to continue supply of water) and make provisions for identifying a new water supplier by customers.