Water

What next for water companies working with lower WACC?

Pollution incidents ‘worst since 2011’

Pollution incidents reported by water companies rose in 2019, with Southern, South West and Northumbrian named as the worst offenders, while Wessex, Severn Trent and United Utilities each scored well.

Women remain ‘woefully’ under-represented in utilities

The Women in Utilities Network (WUN) has urged utility companies not to use the pandemic as an excuse to hide their gender pay gap data. The group called on the sector to publish data for 2019/20 despite government suspending the requirement to do so.

CMA rocks the boat

Yorkshire: This is still a tough settlement

Yorkshire Water has told Utility Week that notwithstanding the gains allowed by the CMA on its PR19 appeal, the regulatory settlement remains tough, particularly with the opex challenge and difficult ODIs to deliver.

Watchdogs warn CMA decision will affect more than water bills

Consumer watchdogs have welcomed the CMA's increased spending allowances for projects that were important to consumers but warned its overall stance could set a precedent for other regulated companies and add to the pressure on household finances.

Welsh Water, Portsmouth and Wessex top the first C-MeX chart

Ofwat: CMA’s allowed returns are too generous

Ofwat has expressed concern that in its PR19 provisional redeterminations, the CMA has set a rate of return that is lower than that requested by the appellant companies in their business plans. Senior director David Black told Utility Week this goes against the precedent of previous cases. Read his comments and reaction from across the industry.

Deadline for Utility Week Awards approaches

CMA sets new cost of capital for PR19 appellants

Utility Week Live Online: Operational Excellence and Innovation

Thames uses innovative repair technique for ‘most complex’ burst pipe

Thames Water has shared details of an innovative technique it used to repair a pipe by sending engineers inside the pipe instead of patching the 90cm burst.

Welsh Water asks government to ban plastic wet wipes

Welsh Water have called for wet wipes that contain plastic to be included in a government proposal to ban single-use plastics. The move is supported by 84 per cent of customers.

Ofwat to adjust price controls to reflect ‘blind year’

Ofwat has calculated price control adjustments to accurately reflect the final year of AMP6 (2019-20) which could see companies returning money to customers for underperformance.

Weekend press round-up: Deadline to fix ‘dumb’ energy meters put back until end of 2021

In our latest review of sector coverage across the national newspapers, the deadline to upgrade millions of first-generation smart meters has been “quietly” extended by a year. Elsewhere EDF is set for a showdown with the Treasury over state funding for nuclear power stations. And The Times issues a plea for information about business secretary Alok Sharma, missing since March.