United Utilities Review - Business Water 

Ofwat deregulated the commercial water market in early 2017. This marked a significant change in how non-domestic customers interact with their suppliers. Rather than being stuck with whichever supplier governs their region, consumers can choose a supplier that appeals to them. 

After deregulation, two camps formed. Wholesalers supply fresh water and manage wastewater, but they do not communicate with customers. Business water suppliers like United Utilities buy services from wholesalers and sell them on to customers.

In your search for a new supplier, you might have heard of United Utilities business water services. Our experts have done all the research for you. Keep reading to learn about United Utilies’ history, services, and unit rates. 

What Do I Need to Know About United Utilities?

United Utilities first became active in 1995. It has amassed over seven million customers who are spread across the North West. This domestic and commercial water supplier covers Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, most of Cheshire and select areas of Derbyshire. 

You can depend on United Utilities for fresh water and wastewater services. Even better, this supplier understands the responsibility that it holds. It hopes to act in an ‘environmentally-sustainable, economically beneficial, and socially responsible manner.’ 

If you are searching for a business water supplier that is transparent, you have come to the right place. Discover Water is an online platform that presents important information in a clear, easily-digestible way. You can go onto Discover Water and learn all you need to know about United Utilities’ progress. 

United Utilities is also transparent about the quality of its fresh water. Fresh water from United Utilities achieved a score of 99.93 on the Drinking Water Inspectorate’s measure for ‘Mean Zonal Compliance’ in 2018. All of this supplier’s fresh water is measured against 39 water quality standards. 

United Utilities Business Water Services

United Utilities’ business water customers can expect a range of extra services on top of fresh water and wastewater services. This supplier also handles tankered industrial waste for customers in Carlisle, Barrow, Blackburn, Davyhulme, and Ellesmere Port. To dispose of this kind of waste, you need an Industrial Waste License. Once you have got a License from United Utilities, you can release landfill leachates, strong organic waste, and hazardous waste. 

Trade effluent is another type of commercial water waste. Trade effluent is anything that is produced as a result of non-domestic processes on a non-domestic property. Like tankered industrial waste, trade effluent requires special permission. If you need to release either of these kinds of waste, you should opt for a supplier that can help you navigate around complicated permissions. 

United Utilities Business Water Customer Reviews

Before you make the leap to a new supplier, you should look at customer reviews. Reviews from existing customers can make all the difference. They can highlight problems around wait times, repairs, and even billing. Once you have looked at sites like Trustpilot, you can make an informed decision about your new supplier. 

United Utilities has over 550 reviews on Trustpilot, which is much more than lots of water suppliers. United Utilities’ business water customers leave reviews on the same page as domestic customers, which means that some of the reviews will be irrelevant. 

This commercial water supplier has 3.8/5 stars on Trustpilot and an overall rating of great. An equal number of customers think that the services are excellent and bad. 47% of customers think that the services deserve 5-stars, and 47% of customers think that the services deserve 1-star. Satisfied customers claim that United Utilities is ‘the gold standard for water utilities’ and that customer service staff are quick and helpful. Unsatisfied customers talk about leaks, long resolution times, and unexplained bills. 

The good news is that someone from United Utilities replies to all the reviews. Even if you are dissatisfied with the service that you receive, you can expect extra support from United Utilities. 

United Utilities Average Business Water Prices

Unit rates are one of the biggest factors for commercial water consumers who want to make the switch. Like a lot of modern suppliers, United Utilities keeps a comprehensive log of its past and present charges on the website. Before we get into unit prices, there are two things that you need to know. 

• Measured charges are for people who have a meter.
• Unmeasured charges are for people who don’t have a meter.

So, how much can you expect to pay for United Utilities’ business water services? 

The standard volumetric charge for properties that have meters is £1.674 per cubic metre (m3). There is also a standing charge that is different for small, medium, and large properties. The standard charge for properties that don’t have meters is £52.99. The charge per £CV is £0.510. 

Community groups can apply for a concessionary scheme that helps with the cost of bills. 

Why Switch Commercial Water Suppliers?

We have helped thousands of commercial water customers in England make the switch. Here are the most common reasons why consumers are dissatisfied with their suppliers. 

• Poor customer service support - Hundreds of thousands of customers deal with poor customer support every day. Lots of suppliers cut corners on customer support by outsourcing calls and failing to provide representatives with the training that they need. This can lead to long wait times, broken promises and, most importantly, disappointed customers. 
• High unit rates - Water retailers like United Utilities buy services from water wholesalers. They add a percentage on top to cover customer-facing activities. As long as they stay within Ofwat’s guidelines, they have the power to lower or raise their unit rates. This leads to a lot of variation between business water suppliers. More and more consumers are switching to find lower unit rates. 
• Not sustainable - Although sustainability is a hot-button topic, some suppliers focus on other things like infrastructure, customer support, and charitable donations. On the other end of the spectrum, lots of suppliers make it their mission to invest in sustainable projects. Some will even protect the habitats in your local area! 
• Services are too generic - It is not uncommon for suppliers to offer generic services that claim to cover small, medium, and large businesses. Since the deregulation of the non-domestic water market, more suppliers are offering tailored support. This means that small, medium, and large companies can get services that suit their day-to-day needs. 

How Do I Switch Business Water Suppliers?

Did you know that switching is the simplest way to save money on your commercial water bills? Don’t let the fear of the unknown stop you from making massive savings - we’ll help you every step of the way. Our experts have created a business water comparison generator for non-domestic consumers who want to take control of their expenses. 

Choose from supply, water, audit, or all services to start the process. All you need to do is put in a few key details. Once we have your information, we will work out where you can making the biggest savings and meet your unique needs. Choose your new tariff, and we will even help you complete your switch.