Workforce, culture and performance

Ovo completes SSE migration four years after takeover

Dogger Bank produces power for first time

South Staffs targets ‘long-term challenges’ in PR24 plan

PR24: Welsh Water customers support bills hike

Welsh Water has strong customer support for its ambitious business plan, despite almost half of customers admitting the proposed bills will be difficult to pay. The company has set out plans to improve services and performance for the years to 2030 and will ask customers to pay an extra 26%.

PR24: United Utilities pledges third of total CSO spend

The new trilemma posed by PR24

‘Don’t blame the cap for a lack of competition … it’s because nobody is innovating’

The co-chief executive of Utility Warehouse, Stuart Burnett, talks to Adam John about the need to move away from a “destructive” model of price-based competition to a market where innovation is allowed to drive progress. He also explains why 60,000 “partners” are at the heart of the company’s plans for growth.

‘Watershed moment’ as aggregators granted access to wholesale market

Ofwat has ‘systematically restricted investment’

Outfox CEO: Customer ban allowed us to improve services

Thames: Our assets need £20bn upgrade

The cost of upgrading and future-proofing Thames Water’s ageing assets would be almost £20 billion, the company has revealed. To tackle the most pressing issues, Thames has proposed spending £4.7 billion on its assets in the five years to 2030. The figures are revealed within Thames’ PR24 business plan which it made public on 5 October, three days later than Ofwat’s submission deadline.

Wessex targets £3.5 billion AMP8 spend

Water-only complaints jump 66% after extreme weather

The number of complaints about water-only companies rose 66% year-on-year following supply interruptions during extreme weather. Although billing disputes dominated the causes of grievances, water watchdog CCW said environmental factors such as the hot, dry summer and freeze-thaw in 2022 triggered an influx of customer complaints when water supplies were affected. South East was named as the most complained about water-only company with disputes related to the freeze thaw, and how subsequent compensation claims were dealt, leading to a surge in customer contacts. 

Water firms claim PR24 equity returns will put off investors

PR24: SES to ‘fall short’ on net zero

Water firms seek £96bn across AMP8

SVT ‘really confident’ Ofwat will approve £13bn spend

Severn Trent has told investors it is confident the "vast majority" of its spending plans for 2025-2030 will be approved, after asking for a doubling in total expenditure compared to the current price control. Meanwhile chief executive Liz Garfield promised growth in regulatory capital value “beyond anything people might have been expecting” for PR24.

British Gas joins call for smart meter mandate

Severn Trent first to reveal PR24 plan

In the first signal of how water companies are approaching investment plans for 2025-2030, Severn Trent has indicated it expects totex to more than double compared to the first half of the decade. The company gave a summary of its plans as it announced it is seeking £1 billion equity to fund a programme of river improvements, resilience and service. It has also revealed indicative views on bill rises and key performance commitments.

Social tariff consultation urgently needed