1. Who, in your organisation, is responsible for deciding how your water is procured?
All Devon County Council (DCC) Estates is supplied by Source for Business and South West Water as far as I can ascertain. There is no sole individual
2. What is your current contract term with your water provider? Start date (MM/YYY) to end date (MM/YYYY)?
There is no contract term as such across the DCC estate. Each office has its own supply of water supplied by one of the two providers aforementioned.
3. Who is your water retailer supplier(s)?
Source for Business for business properties (ie offices) and South West Water for residential properties (of which we have relatively few).
4. What do you consider makes a ‘good’ water retailer?
DCC have no official policy on this. However we look for clear invoices, clear charging and accurate meter reads.
5. How many water meters (SPIDs) do you have?
227 water meters. We should clarify that Academies are responsible for their own supplies and therefore are not included – only DCC offices and DCC schools are included.
6. What is your annual water usage?
The figures we have for April 2022 – March 2023 give 41,437 m2 consumption.
7. What is your annual spend on water?
£1,015,438.16 for the financial year 2022 – 2023.
8. Do you currently procure your water through a framework (e.g. Crown Commercial Services)? If so, which one?
No.
9. Do you use a consultancy or broker to facilitate your water procurement? If so, which one?
No.
10. Do you have an ongoing contract with a consultancy, managing agent, or another form of external provider that helps you manage your water usage and procurement? If so, who?
No
11. Non-domestic customers are able to access the wholesale supply through either a retailer or via a self-supply licence. Have you ever considered applying for a self-supply license? Why / why not?
DCC have not considered a self-supply licence. DCC is in the middle of rationalising its property estate so this may be a consideration after the rationalisation is completed in the coming years.
12. Is there any possibility your organisation will consider procuring their water via a self-supply license in the future?
DCC do not rule anything out, but cannot commit itself for definite at present.