PR19 appeals – Ofwat rejects CMA proposals and warns water customers could pay more Ofwat has warned that customers will pay more on their water bills and investors could scoop up the extra as higher dividend pay-outs if the Competition and Markets Authority confirms its position on the price review appeals by four water companies.  The […]

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Defra: There has been widespread coverage this morning following Ofwat setting out a major package of investment to signal a new era for what the water sector delivers for customers and the environment. This has been covered in the Financial Times, Guardian, Mirror, Independent, Telegraph, Daily Mail, BBC, ITV and Sky News. Proposals unveiled   involve water […]

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Ofwat has published its draft determinations for three fast track firms. from WaterBriefing Following the publication of Ofwat’s draft decisions on business plans put forward by United Utilities, South West Water and Severn Trent, 7.9 million households in the North West, South West and Midlands could see their water bills fall by as much as […]

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A recent Parliamentary debate in the House of Commons on the future of the UK water sector saw calls for the water companies in England to be based on the Scottish Water public sector model or the Welsh Water ownership model with “democratic public ownership” via new consumer and employee trusts. Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) […]

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OFWAT Initial assessment of plans We set high expectations for water companies at PR19. We pushed them to go further than ever before, improving efficiency, customer service and resilience. We asked them to share financing gains with customers and to ensure that dividend and executive pay policy is aligned to delivering for customers. We asked […]

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BBC: Water companies have damaged trust, regulator Ofwat says. High levels of payments to bosses and investors by water companies have damaged customer trust, the regulator Ofwat has said. It has published new rules that will force firms to explain how executive pay is linked to performance and to prioritise customers’ interests. Companies paying dividends […]

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Thanks to: Nathan Richardson & Fiona Bowles Nathan Richardson, Senior Water Policy Officer RSPB: “In headline terms the National Environment Programme (WINEP3) looks like a strong programme. We are pleased to see continued investment by the water sector to meet WFD 2027 getting to good status deadline alongside action to avoid deterioration in status. Indeed, […]

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