The Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) has responded to the Independent Water Commission’s call for evidence, offering a Scottish perspective on economic regulation.
While the review focuses on England and Wales, WICS said it welcomed the opportunity to contribute insights from Scotland’s regulatory framework. At the core of this model is Scottish Water—a publicly owned, commercially operated utility that is independently regulated.
WICS believes this framework has delivered tangible results. Water charges in Scotland remain among the lowest in the UK, while sustained investment—more per person than any other UK water company since 2002—has helped improve service levels. Scottish Water also consistently ranks as one of the UK’s top performers for customer satisfaction, according to the UK Customer Satisfaction Index.
WICS participated in two dedicated sessions with the Commission’s Secretariat: one focused on the governance and regulatory structure of the Scottish industry, and another on the design and operation of the non-household retail market. These sessions provided an opportunity to highlight key aspects of the Scottish approach, including:
- Clear roles and responsibilities across delivery and regulatory bodies;
- A Strategic Review of Charges shaped by Ethical Business Practice and Regulation (EBP&R);
- Public ownership with a focus on long-term investment;
- A competitive non-household retail market underpinned by a jointly developed Code of Practice.
David Satti, Interim CEO said:
“Many of the most significant challenges we face are shared: climate resilience, ageing infrastructure, public trust and affordability among them. We welcome the Commission’s commitment to considering a wide range of perspectives and approaches, and we’re pleased to contribute insights from Scotland’s experience.
“We look forward to continuing the conversation and supporting sector-wide dialogue on the future of water services.”
WICS’ recent final methodology for the Strategic Review of Charges 2027–33 provides further detail on Scotland’s regulatory approach.
Read WICS’ response to the call for evidence.
