“Events, dear boy, events.” Harold Macmillan’s famous words neatly sum up the challenges to the nascent water market over the past year. To recap just a few ‘events’: original Open Water chief executive Keith Fowler made an unplanned exit in February; despite months of advertising, a permanent new boss was never found; the government bowed to pressure and made an 11th hour decision to allow companies to exit the retail market; and the Treasury slapped Ofwat in the face with an unexpected decision to classify Open Water Markets Ltd as a public body, thus scuppering the regulator’s plans to speed the programme through at arm’s length.
Water competition will arrive on time
