Major RIIO-GD3 framework win for Aqua Consultants with Economic Insight for Wales & West Utilities Limited

17 January 2024, Aqua Consultants, together with Economic Insight have been successful in securing four of seven available lots in Wales & West Utilities RIIO-GD3 business plan strategic consultancy framework tender.

Aqua Consultants will support Wales & West Utilities with the design and delivery of an industry leading business strategy and stakeholder-led business plan which will be submitted to Ofgem.

The successful lots are:

·?????? Lot 1 – Economics and financing

·?????? Lot 2 – Financing

·?????? Lot 3 – Competition, benchmarking, and related economic studies

·?????? Lot 7 – Open response

The framework will kick off mid-2024 and is for an initial 3-year period with options to extend.

Ben Shearer, Managing Director, Aqua Consultants, said “We are delighted to have been successful in securing this work alongside partners Economic Insight, to deliver this framework for Wales & West Utilities. We are experts in regulated industries, having supported several of the water companies with their PR24 submissions for AMP8. Our tailored environmental consultancy challenges thinking, manages change, and achieves optimal decisions.”

Wales & West Utilities have a vision to be trusted to expertly serve customers and communities with safe, reliable, and affordable energy services today, while investing wisely to create a sustainable, greener future. This framework will help ensure a robust negotiation process with stakeholders, including Ofgem, to demonstrate legitimacy and ensure fair returns from the regulatory settlement for their customers to RIIO-GD3 and beyond.

Aqua Consultants, part of the Adler and Allan Group, has 120 employees and offices in Newcastle, Leeds, Bradford, Birmingham, and Exeter.

Wales & West Utilities has a network of more than 35,000km of gas pipes, transporting gas to 2.5 million homes and 7.5 million customers.