Water bosses risk prison time as government launches crackdown September 4, 2024 Bosses of water companies who obstruct watchdog investigations could face up to two years behind bars, as the government unveils tough new laws to ramp up enforcement. The Water (Special Measures) Bill was introduced in Parliament on Wednesday and will grant sweeping new powers to the Environment Agency (EA), the Drinking Water Inspectorate and Ofwat [...]
Government approval paves way for new Thames Water ‘mega-reservoir’ in South Oxford September 4, 2024 The government has endorsed Thames Water’s plans to manage water supply for the next 50 years, paving the way for a controversial new £1.5bn ‘mega-reservoir’ in South Oxford. Steve Reed, the environment minister, has approved the embattled water firm’s proposal—called its Water Resource Management Plans—in which the firm maps out its strategy to secure the [...]
Water firms warn of ‘material risk’ to stopping sewage leaks with Ofwat bill cap August 28, 2024 Plans to cap water bill increases at £19 per year would prevent suppliers from raising enough cash to improve performance, Water UK said.
Thames Water: Ofwat proposals ‘not tenable’ with supplier’s recovery as new bill hikes planned August 28, 2024 Debt-laden Thames Water has appealed to Ofwat to sign off on a five-year business plan to make it "investible."
Thames Water: Ofwat hunt for independent ‘monitor’ already under way August 23, 2024 Ofwat’s search for an independent ‘monitor’ who will report on Thames Water’s progress and have access to company information is already under way, City A.M understands. The new appointment is part of a string of new measures that Thames has signed up to in order to avoid a hefty fine for breaching its licence conditions, [...]
Mark Kleinman: Britain’s fibre infrastructure proves hard to digest August 22, 2024 Mark Kleinman is Sky News’ City Editor and the man who gets the Square Mile talking in his weekly City A.M. column. Today, he looks at the UK’s altnet sector, a jilted housebuilder and Thames Water’s leaky boardroom. Britain’s fibre infrastructure proves hard to digest Time to hang up? That’s the way many investors feeling about [...]
UK water firms could face £2bn in fines over next five years, Moody’s warns August 15, 2024 UK water companies could be hit with a total of roughly £2bn in fines over the next five years, Moody's has estimated, warning that more demanding proposals from the industry regulator increase risk in the sector.
Water regulator welcomes plan to boost customer compensation August 12, 2024 The water industry watchdog has said it “welcomes” the government’s plan to increase compensation for customers receiving poor services from water companies.
Government to double compensation for poor customer service from water companies August 12, 2024 Compensation for customers receiving poor services from water companies who are failing to meet standards could more than double under new Government proposals.
Thames Water handed more special measures from Ofwat after credit rating downgrade August 7, 2024 Thames Water will be made to appoint an independent monitor and develop a “suitable” turnaround plan as part of a raft of new measures from the regulator after the its credit rating was downgraded. Ofwat said that the recent decisions from Moody’s and S&P – two of the world’s largest credit ratings agencies – to [...]