About Water industry commission for scotland
The Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) is a non-departmental public body that has been established to regulate the Scottish water industry. The commission has statutory responsibilities and works tirelessly to ensure that the Scottish water industry provides high-quality services and value for money to its customers.
The WICS was established in 2005 under the Water Services etc. (Scotland) Act 2005, which gave it powers to regulate the prices charged by Scottish Water, monitor its performance, and promote competition in the market. The commission's primary objective is to protect consumers' interests by ensuring that they receive high-quality services at reasonable prices.
The WICS operates independently of government and is accountable directly to the Scottish Parliament. It comprises a board of commissioners who are appointed by ministers after an open recruitment process. The board members have diverse backgrounds and bring a wealth of experience from various sectors such as finance, law, engineering, and consumer advocacy.
One of WICS's key roles is setting price limits for Scottish Water every six years through a process known as 'price review.' During this process, WICS consults with stakeholders such as customers, environmental groups, trade unions, and other interested parties before making its final decision on price limits. This ensures that customers' views are taken into account when setting prices.
In addition to regulating prices charged by Scottish Water, WICS also monitors its performance against agreed targets such as customer satisfaction levels or leakage reduction targets. If there are any issues with performance or compliance with regulatory requirements identified during monitoring activities or audits conducted by independent auditors appointed by WICS - then appropriate action will be taken promptly.
WICS also promotes competition in the market where possible through licensing new entrants into the market or encouraging existing licensees to expand their operations into new areas or offer new services/products.
Overall, WICS plays an essential role in ensuring that Scotland's water industry provides high-quality services at reasonable prices while promoting competition in the market. The commission's work is critical to protecting consumers' interests and ensuring that Scotland's water industry remains sustainable and resilient for years to come.