18.Section 1 of the Act amends section 61 of the 1991 Act. It removes water companies’ powers to disconnect for non-payment of bills the supply of water to those premises set out in a new Schedule to the Water Industry Act 1991. (Schedule 1 to this Act inserts a new Schedule 4A into the 1991 Act.) These are premises are private dwelling houses, caravans, houseboats, houses in multiple occupation and sheltered accommodation (where these are someone’s main home) and children’s homes, residential care homes, prisons and detention centres, schools, premises used for children’s daycare, institutions of further and higher education, hospitals, nursing homes, GPs’ and dentists’ surgeries (including surgeries set up as primary care pilot schemes) and premises occupied by the emergency services (that is, police, fire and ambulance).
19.Section 2 adds a new section to the 1991 Act (section 63A). It prohibits water companies from using devices designed to reduce the amount of water available for use (for instance, by using trickle valves) to enforce bill payment for those premises referred to in Schedule 4A.
Commentary on Sections Sections 1 & 2 and Schedule 1: Disconnection and restriction of supply