Overnight the programme and everyone in it cease to be working on a “project” and start operating in an as-live environment.
The shadow market allows MOSL and existing market participants six months to commission the central market operating system and stabilise the dataset on which the market will be opened, to the benefit of all participants in the live market.
If everything goes to plan, there will be no major cutover in April – the market will open, customers will be able to switch and money will flow. The transition should be seamless.
There is still a lot of work to be done, but the industry can take enormous comfort from the fact that the shadow market has opened on time, with all companies participating in it, from the smallest inset to the largest water and sewerage company. To use Cathryn Ross’s words, we are confident but not complacent.
Reaching this milestone has required a herculean effort by participants, partners and MOSL alike. The support we have had from companies has been exemplary and we recognise and appreciate the trust that they have placed in us.
Just over a year ago, MOSL didn’t exist. The vision and commitment of the three founding chief executives of United Utilities, Northumbrian Water and Anglian Water – Steve Mogford, Heidi Mottram and Peter Simpson – gave us a great start.
The close working relationship with Defra and Ofwat, combined with advice and support from north of the border in the shape of the Scottish government, Wics and the Central Markets Agency, has been instrumental in keeping us on course and honest to the challenge.
At MOSL we are fortunate to have an extremely supportive board and a talented team working alongside the CGI delivery team. The pace has been relentless from the beginning. Despite all the challenges, we are all a week away from having delivered the shadow market on time, albeit with a few things left to conclude early in the shadow market.
This is a fantastic achievement by the industry. The opening of the non-household water market is truly transformational and signals the start of an exciting new era for the sector as a whole. Over the next six months we will continue to work together, and learn as much as possible, so that customers have the best possible experience when the market finally opens.
Ben Jeffs, chief executive, Market Operator Services Limited