New supplier aims to take the red tape out of water rate exemptions

Charities in Scotland are being offered an alternative to Business Stream for their water supply.

Castle Water says it will cut through the bureaucracy and red tape associated with charity water rates exemption and promises to undercut Business Stream in terms of cost.

After much lobbying from the sector, the new Water Charges Exemption Scheme took effect from 1 April 2015 meaning those with an income of up to £200,000 will no longer need to pay water and sewerage charges, while those with incomes between £200,000 and £300,000 will be able to pay a reduced rate.

However, many charities have expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of support offered by Business Stream in advising them on these discounts, leading to Castle Water offering to take the complexity out of the process.

Castle will provide expertise as well as service so it’s a win win situation for those wanting to switch

Business customers have been able to choose their water supplier since 2008 in Scotland.

While Scottish Water, via its commercial arm Business Stream, continues to deliver the supply, the quality, pipes and metering all remain when a customer makes the switch.

Chief executive John Reynolds explains: “We can help charities who quality for the exemption scheme and if not we can offer guaranteed discounts.

“For larger non-exempt charities, such as schools and sports clubs where revenue only comes at certain times of the year, we can offer tailored payment schemes.”

Customers are being offered flexible contracts – usually over a standard 36 month period – but this can be flexible depending on a charity’s size and needs.

The company, based in Blairgowrie, is delivering the scheme in conjunction with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations whose director of development John Ferguson said the offer was a viable alternative for charities looking for a way to negotiate the complexity of water rates’ exemptions.

He said: “Charities will be boosted by the knowledge that Castle Water is backed by ourselves and that we believe the scheme offers a more empathetic alternative to Business Stream.

“Smaller charities just don’t have the time or patience to be dealing with complex exemption schemes and would prefer to be getting on with the vital services they provide.

“Castle will provide expertise as well as service so it’s a win win situation for those wanting to switch.”

Interested charities can go to Castle website where they can calculate how much savings can be made by switching via its fastquote function.