Overview

The Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) is the economic regulator of the Scottish water industry. Our role involves setting caps on the charges that Scottish Water raises from its customers. 

Our draft methodology, published on 14 August, set out that we were developing business plan guidance and data templates for Scottish Water to use in preparing its business plan.  Business plan guidance and data templates play an important role in ensuring we have the information we need to set charge caps and a baseline for what Scottish Water plans to deliver for the regulatory period 2027-33.

Since June, we have engaged with Scottish Water to develop the business plan guidance and data templates. The current draft of the business plan guidance and data templates covers ten tables:

1. Outcomes
2. Enhancement and growth outputs
3. Maintenance expenditure
4. Mains and sewers condition
5. SRC27 projects and programmes
6. Transformation initiatives
7. Other costs and assumptions
8. Summary costs
9. Enhancement and growth benchmarking
10. Base benchmarking

Participating in the consultation

We welcome responses to our proposals from across the water sector.

We continue to engage with Scottish Water on tables 1 to 5 and aim to conclude this engagement by 22nd October so that Scottish Water can respond to this consultation by 5th November. Following this engagement until 22nd October, if Scottish Water considers that it is unable to provide the information requested, we ask Scottish Water to explain why and propose an alternative data point (including a corresponding definition) that will meet our requirements.

We also wish to understand stakeholders' views on the draft guidance and data tables. We want to hear their views on whether the business plan guidance and data tables meet their requirements or whether there are other areas where we should ask Scottish Water for additional information. We expect stakeholder views to mainly focus on tables 1 (outcomes) and 2 (enhancement and growth outputs) but also welcome comments on other tables. 

Read the full consultation documentation at the following links:

Draft business plan guidance and definitions

Draft business plan tables

If you require the consultation document in an alternative format, please contact us. 

Your personal data

Please see our transparency statement to find out how WICS handles your personal data.

Please tell us your views

Your feedback is vital and we encourage you to take a few moments to share your thoughts. We have prepared a template for responses to assist with comments on specific lines from the business plan guidance and data tables.

Please email your comments and any completed response template to our team at enquiries@wics.scot. Please add the subject line 'Draft Business Plan response'.