Set Up Your Business Water Account
What is a Business Water ‘Gap Site’?
A business water gap site is a property connected to the water and/or wastewater network but not registered for charging, often due to errors or omissions in the water company's records. Or it could be a newly built or converted site that has been turned into a business. It's essentially a property that is receiving water and/or wastewater services but hasn't been properly accounted for in the billing system.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
What it is:
A gap site is a property that is connected to the water supply and/or wastewater network, but it's not being billed by a business water supplier.
This means the property is potentially using the service but isn't registered in the water supplier's system.
It's a situation where there's a gap in the market between the property receiving service and the property being registered for charges.
Why it happens:
New connections: Properties may be newly connected but not yet registered for charges.
Errors in records: There might be inaccuracies or omissions in the water supplier's databases.
Illegal connections: A property could be illegally connected to the water network.
Property changes: Changes to a property (e.g., splitting a property) might not be updated in the system.
Impact:
Unaccounted revenue:
Gap sites mean water suppliers are not collecting revenue from properties using their services.
Regulatory compliance:
Water suppliers have a duty to accurately account for all properties using their services, and gap sites can impact their compliance.
Addressing gap sites:
Water suppliers and licensed providers are working to identify and address gap sites.
Incentive schemes are sometimes offered to retailers for reporting and correctly registering gap sites.
The process of registering a gap site usually involves a formal application and verification that the property is actually using the service.
In summary, a gap site is a business property that's connected to the water network but not being billed, creating a gap in the billing system and potentially impacting water suppliers' revenue and compliance