Water industry - ministerial objectives and principles of charging statement: partial BRIA

Introduction

This document is a partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) prepared to support the Scottish Government’s consultation on its statutory inputs into the Strategic Review of Charges (SRC) for the 2027-33 regulatory period: the Ministerial Objectives and the Principles of Charging Statement.

The SRC sets the framework for how Scottish Water will deliver services and invest in infrastructure over the next regulatory period. The Ministerial Objectives outline the Scottish Government’s ambitions for the water industry over the 2027-33 regulatory period. These include maintaining the standard of services currently enjoyed by customers, supporting economic growth, and adapting to the challenges of climate change. The Principles of Charging Statement sets out the Ministers’ policy approach to how water and wastewater charges should be structured, aiming to ensure fairness, transparency, and financial sustainability for customers and Scottish Water alike.

This partial BRIA summarises the evidence these proposals seek to address and outlines the policy options under consideration. It is intended to inform stakeholders and support engagement during the consultation period.

A final BRIA will be published by October 2026, once the Ministerial Objectives and Principles of Charging Statement have been finalised following consultation and further policy development.