Wholesaler Roadmap actions
Wholesaler have four actions (W1-W4) allocated to them in the Strategic Panel's Roadmap to a Flourishing Market. Find out how wholesalers are progressing with these below.
Each action is assigned a red, amber or green (RAG) status depending on its progress. The definition of the RAG status is as follows:
- Green – on schedule, no concerns OR delivered and under review
- Amber – flagged because an issue has been encountered that may or may not delay the completion of the action
- Red - delay or issue identified that is preventing delivery to schedule
| Action | Latest update | End date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
W1. Communicate tariffs, customer incentives and initiatives to retailers Retailers have sufficient information on wholesaler water efficiency solutions to target customers with appropriate messaging so that the customers receive communications around innovative solutions that are relevant to them. |
February 2026: Wholesalers are publishing charging rules and schemes, with evidence of water-efficiency initiatives and ODI-driven collaboration. This action is considered delivered and will monitored by the Panel.
October 2025: The Baringa report is due to be released by the end of the year, with intital findings indicating that split responsibilities between wholesalers and retailers limit effective communication of efficiency opportunities. Based on information presented at the Panel Open Forum and the User Forum, the report recommends standard data-sharing frameworks, joint processes and aligned leak policies so retailers can use wholesaler insights to deliver targeted efficiency offers. Ofwat and MOSL are urged to set clear reporting standards to ensure consistent, transparent information for customers.
September 2025: The Strategic Panel enaged Baringa to develop a report into how customers might be incentivised to become more water efficient. The RWG Water Efficiency Sub-Group presenedt an initial summary of the findings and sought additional input at the September Strategic Panel meeting. Baringa will attended the Panel Open Forum in September to further discuss and share the findings. |
31 March 2026 |
Delivered and under review |
|
W2. Incentivise retailers to reduce demand to deliver (or encourage uptake of) services that reduce demand for water and thereby alleviate the pressure on wastewater services. This may require new or reformed frameworks or tariffs and updates to charging rules and so may need the support of the regulator, the Panel and/or MOSL. |
February 2026: Evidence from the Retailer Wholesaler Group shows trials to incentivise water demand reduction are underway (e.g. MHCLG Cambridge pilot). While wholesalers are testing a range of funded and partnership approaches, retailer uptake has been mixed, with cost, capacity and commercial concerns limiting participation. Progress is ongoing, but structural barriers remain, indicating further learning and support are needed before the action can be considered complete.
October 2025: Based on information presented at the Open Forum and User Forum, the Baringa report recommends new incentives and funding so wholesalers can share savings from reduced demand with retailers and customers. It proposes a Water Efficiency Levy to fund retailer-led efficiency programmes and calls for tariff reforms linking charges to the value of water savings. The Strategic Panel notes that regulatory support will be needed to ensure savings are transparently reinvested.
August 2025: Ofwat is consulting on whether the lower unit charging rates for large users under the Wholesale Charging Rules, including discount single rate tariffs and falling block tariffs, could be restructured to promote water efficiency. The consultation closes 1 October. |
31 March 2027 |
On schedule |
|
W3. Leverage smart technology to stimulate demand-side response Wholesalers to exploit the rollout of smart metering technology as outlined in their Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs) to provide water security and innovative tariffs for all retailers across all regions and send clear, appropriate, and timely pricing signals through the supply chain. This could also enable water efficiency solutions to be offered by any retailer to any customer regardless of region. |
February 2026: Smart metering rollout is progressing broadly in line with WRMPs, coordinated through the Smart Metering Rollout Group, with a best-practice guide now moving into phase two. However, RWG discussions highlight that innovative non-household tariffs remain limitted by low smart meter penetration and market complexity. The action remains in progress, dependent on further rollout and learning.
October 2025: Based on information shared at the User Forum and Panel Open Forum, the Baringa report notes that only 10% of business customers have smart meters, rising to 48% by 2030 and 65% by 2050. It identifies smart metering as key to advanced tariffs, leak detection and demand management, recommending a coordinated framework where wholesalers share real-time data with retailers. Standardised data sharing and regulatory support would enable all retailers to use these insights to offer dynamic pricing and water-saving services.
August 2025: No change from April 2025. |
31 March 2030 |
On schedule |
|
W4. Wholesalers to have rolled out smart metering technology Co-ordinated rollout of smart technology according to WRMPs so that customer choice is not constrained in some regions resulting in more expensive water and wastewater services as an enabler to smart tariffs and smart settlement. |
February 2026: Smart metering technology rollout is broadly on track, supported by stronger coordination through the Smart Metering Rollout Group and published best-practice guidance. However, uneven rollout and data maturity continue to limit customer choice and tariff innovation, reinforcing smart metering as a necessary enabler rather than a sufficien condition for market-wide smart tariffs and settlement.
October 2025: Wholesaler performance against their own targets for this financial year is up by nearly six percentage points over the last two months to 59.91%. The Smart Meter Implementation Map is publicly available and shows when smart meter rollout is planned for each postal area. Overall Smart Meter rate stands at 10.98% across the market.
August 2025: One in 10 businesses in England now have a smart water meter, according to market data. Wholesalers have set their own targets and have rolled out 54% of the meters they plan to install this financial year. |
31 March 2031 |
On schedule |
The table above includes the most recent three updates for each action. If you would like to view a full list of past updates please contact panel.secretariat@mosl.co.uk. For more information on how other stakeholders are progressing with their actions, please follow the links below.