13/11/09
Rob Wesley, Water UK Policy Adviser, spoke at the Utility Week Debt Conference on 11 November 2009.
The water industry recognises that the independent review of charging lead by Anna Walker is crucial for the sector. We have been working closely with the review team, and look forward to the final report next month.
However, that must not be the end of the story. We will continue to press for key recommendations to be taken forward with new legislation.
First, I'll put things in context, looking at the latest debt position. It won’t be a surprise that consumer debt in the water sector continues to rise.
Then, I'll show how how the downturn is affecting companies, and what they are doing to mitigate it.
Which will lead me to ask whether the industry has got the right tools to cope. Again, it won’t surprise anyone that my answer is "No, it hasn’t. It needs help to address the situation".
Presentation