Sutton and East Surrey Water

What Sutton and East Surrey Water does

Sutton and East Surrey Water plc (trading as SES Water) is a regulated water-only company supplying drinking water to approximately 745,000 customers across a 322 square-mile franchise spanning parts of Surrey, Kent, and south London. Founded in 1862 and headquartered in Redhill, the company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pennon Group plc. It delivers around 160 million litres of water per day (peaking at 200 million litres) sourced 85% from chalk aquifer boreholes and 15% from the Bough Beech reservoir, distributed through 3,400 km of water mains, 8 treatment works, 23 pumping stations, and 31 service reservoirs and water towers.

The company's core product is metered and unmeasured household water supply, priced under Ofwat's regulatory framework, with revenue supplemented by non-household wholesale services (provided to retailers since the 2017 competitive market opening, including its own SES Business Water retail arm) and developer services for new connections and infrastructure works. Customer-facing technology includes the MyAccount self-service portal (with over 50,000 paperless billing users), the DigDat "In Your Area" live incident reporting tool, the Priority Services Register for vulnerable customers, the Water Support social tariff (50% bill reduction), and the Landlord TAP platform. The company also runs the Flow Zone education programme (reaching 6,200+ pupils annually), the Better Futures Fund community grant scheme, and a GetWaterFit water-saving tool in partnership with Save Water Save Money.

SES Water generates revenue through regulated household water charges, business customer wholesale tariffs (since 2017), and transaction-fee-based developer services for new connections and infrastructure works. Distribution occurs via direct self-serve online channels (MyAccount, Landlord TAP, DigDat), phone-based customer service, and a dedicated developer services team. The company maintains water quality compliance above 99.5% through approximately 120,000 annual tests on 13,000 samples, has reduced operational greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 90% over ten years using 100% renewable energy, and operates under a £100m investment programme through 2030 (including £24m water softening, £16m mains renewal, and treatment works upgrades) funded by April 2026 bill increases.

Name

Sutton and East Surrey Water

Legal name

Sutton and East Surrey Water plc

Website

https://seswater.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1862

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Sutton and East Surrey Water (SES Water) is a regulated UK water-only utility, owned by Pennon Group, supplying drinking water to approximately 745,000 customers across a 322 square-mile area in Surrey, Kent, and south London. It operates 3,400 km of mains, 8 treatment works, and the Bough Beech reservoir under Ofwat regulation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Utility Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Raw Water Conveyance & Transmission (Aqueducts, Mains, Pumping Stations) (EUANAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Move-In/Move-Out, Service Orders & Field Dispatch (turn-ons/turn-offs, appointments, workforce scheduling) (EUANAIAH)

Keywords

• Water utility services
• Drinking water supply
• Developer water connections
• Household water billing
• Water infrastructure management

Headquarters

HQ city

Redhill

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Household Water Charges: Residential customers are charged for drinking water supply. From 1 April 2026, water bills increase to fund a £100m investment programme by 2030. The company operates both measured (metered) and unmeasured billing. Water Support tariff reduces bills by 50% for eligible customers, funded by £12.02 added to other customers' annual bills.
2. Non-Household/Business Water: Business customers in England have been able to choose retailers since 2017. SES Water serves as wholesaler with SES Business Water providing retail services. The Wholesale Service Desk manages communication with retailers on planned and unplanned work.
3. Developer Services: Charges for new water connections, supply upgrades, and infrastructure works for property developers and homeowners undertaking extensions or new developments
4. Sewerage Services (Pass-through): For customers in Thames Water's sewerage area, sewerage charges are included in SES Water's bill. Southern Water sewerage customers receive separate bills.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sutton and East Surrey Water plc (SES Water) is a regulated water-only company that supplies clean drinking water to approximately 750,000 residents across 322 square miles of Surrey, Kent, and south London, operating 8 treatment works, 23 pumping stations, and over 3,400 km of water mains to deliver around 160 million litres daily. Its commercial scope extends beyond household supply to include developer services for new connections, financial-assistance schemes (WaterSure, WaterDirect, and social tariffs), a Priority Services Register for vulnerable customers, landlord account management, and wholesale water supply to licensed retailers serving non-household customers.

Product overview

Sutton and East Surrey Water (SES Water) is a regional water utility operating as part of the Pennon Group. The company provides a unified water supply service delivering 160 million litres of clean drinking water daily to over 750,000 people across 322 square miles in Surrey, Kent, and south London. The core product is water supply and distribution, supported by customer-facing digital services including MyAccount (online account management portal), water meters, Priority Services Register (support for vulnerable customers), Water Support Scheme (social tariffs including WaterDirect and WaterSure), Developer Services (new connections and infrastructure), Business Retailer Services (wholesale services for water retailers), and Flow Zone Education Programme (community education at Bough Beech Reservoir). Additional offerings include the Better Futures Fund community grant programme and GetWaterFit water-saving calculator. The company also manages infrastructure through programmes like the water mains renewal and leakage reduction initiatives, while wastewater services are provided by partner companies Thames Water or Southern Water depending on location.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Household Water Supply Continuous piped drinking-water supply delivered through 3,400+ km of water mains to approximately 750,000 residential customers across 322 square miles of Surrey, Kent, and south London, with both metered and unmetered tariffs available.
• Water Meter Installation Free installation of a water meter at residential premises to enable metered charging, consumption tracking, and access to behavioural water-efficiency tools.
• Priority Services Register Free registration scheme providing tailored support for vulnerable customers (e.g. older, disabled, chronically ill, or non-English-speaking households), including priority communication during supply incidents and additional assistance services.
• WaterSure (Capped Bill Scheme) Government-supported capped-bill tariff that limits the amount a qualifying metered household pays for water if they receive certain benefits and have three or more children under 19, or a medical condition requiring high water use.
• WaterDirect (Benefit Deduction Scheme) Payment scheme under which water charges are collected by direct deduction from a customer's qualifying state benefits, helping customers in arrears manage repayment sustainably.
• Developer Services (New Connections and Mains Work) Quotation and delivery service for property developers and self-build customers requiring new water connections, water-main extensions, and diversions on development sites within SES Water's region.
• Landlord TAP (Tenant Account Portal) Free online portal enabling residential landlords and letting agents to manage tenant accounts, voids, and account transfers across their property portfolio within the SES Water region.
• Wholesale Water Supply to Licensed Retailers Wholesale supply of water and associated wholesaler services to licensed water retailers under the Open Water market framework, serving non-household (business) customers in SES Water's appointed area.
• MyAccount (Customer Self-Service Portal) Online self-service portal and mobile app enabling household customers to view and pay bills, submit meter readings, monitor consumption, and manage account details.

Quantifiable outcome

• Water meters reduce household water usage by approximately 15%, also reducing energy bills
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HomeServecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlumbing and Drainage Plus partnership offering HomeServe's plumbing and drainage cover services to SES Water customers. Promoted on SES Water website as a partner service for customers needing plumbing assistance.
• ActionFundercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant management platform partner managing the Better Futures Fund community funding programme. AI-driven platform that streamlines funding process and delivers money directly to community projects.
• The Commonwork Trust at Bore PlaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint work on Bough Beech estate centred around people and nature, providing nature-based learning, managed estate access, and improved conservation management. Supported by Defra's Farming in Protected Landscapes funding.
• South East Rivers TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to secure funding for Farm Cluster Officer to facilitate Lower Eden Farm Cluster needs, focusing on food security, water management, and landscape recovery.
• Defra / Farming in Protected LandscapesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment funding programme supporting nature-based solutions and conservation work at Bough Beech estate.
• StepChangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDebt charity recommended to customers needing support with managing finances and exploring options before applying for SES Water's financial schemes.
• Citizens AdviceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent advice organization recommended for customers needing free and impartial financial guidance.
• National DebtlineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDedicated debt advice service offering clear guidance, tools and resources recommended to customers dealing with debt.
• Christians Against PovertyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDebt charity providing practical solutions and support recommended to customers needing help with financial difficulties.
• WaterSafeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved Contractors' Scheme for plumbing services. SES Water recommends customers use WaterSafe-approved plumbers for internal pipework repairs.
• Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory programme SES Water participates in to define nature-based solutions and interventions across the Eden catchment for sustained river flow and better water quality.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Anglian Water: Anglian Water is a large UK water-and-sewerage company operating in the driest region of England. Comparable as a regulated water utility under Ofwat, and shares SES Water's exposure to a water-stressed operating environment, though it is also multi-service and considerably larger.
• Yorkshire Water: Yorkshire Water is a large UK regulated water-and-sewerage utility. Comparable as another Ofwat-regulated English water monopoly, differing mainly in scale and in operating across a different climatic region.
• Severn Trent Water: Severn Trent is one of the largest listed UK water-and-sewerage incumbents, serving ~4.5 million households across the Midlands. Comparable on the regulated water-utility business model and Ofwat framework, but materially larger and offers both water and wastewater services.
• Thames Water: Thames Water is the largest UK water-and-sewerage utility and the incumbent sewerage provider for the majority of SES Water's supply area. While SES Water bills for sewerage on Thames Water's behalf, Thames is structurally comparable as a regulated English monopoly water-and-sewerage utility.
• United Utilities: United Utilities is a large listed UK water-and-sewerage company serving the North West. Comparable as a regulated English water utility under the same Ofwat regime, but significantly larger and broader in geographic and service scope than SES Water's water-only focus.

Direct peers

• South West Water: South West Water is the flagship water-and-sewerage subsidiary of Pennon Group, providing comparable regulated utility services (drinking water plus wastewater) under the same Ofwat regime. Directly comparable business model and group governance, though it is multi-service and considerably larger than SES Water.
• Affinity Water: Affinity Water is one of the UK's largest water-only utilities, serving around 3.6 million people across parts of the South East. It is the closest direct peer to SES Water — same water-only regulatory model, overlapping geographic exposure in the South East, similar size tier, and similar dependence on groundwater.
• Bournemouth Water: Bournemouth Water is a UK water-only company also owned by Pennon Group, making it a directly comparable regulated water-only peer inside the same corporate family. Serves around 0.5 million customers in the South West, similar scale band to SES Water.
• Bristol Water: Bristol Water is a UK water-only company and a sister subsidiary within Pennon Group alongside SES Water. It is a near-perfect governance and operating-model peer — same parent, same Ofwat regime, same regulated water-only mandate — though it serves a different region (the South West).
• South East Water: South East Water is a UK water-only company serving approximately 2.3 million customers across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire. It shares SES Water's supply geography, water-only regulatory structure, and exposure to drought/abstraction risk in the South East.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/seswater
• Facebookfacebook.com/SESWaterOfficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2937221

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sutton and East Surrey Water