Six water companies appeal to Competition and Markets Authority

Six water companies have indicated they will appeal Ofwat’s Final Determination to the Competition and Markets Authority. 

In total five combined water and sewerage companies will appeal (Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, Southern Water, Thames Water and Wessex Water) along with water-only company South East Water. In total, the six companies serve more than half of all households in England.

This follows Ofwat’s decision to cut the six companies planned investment by nearly £7 billion in their final determinations released in December.

David Henderson, Water UK Chief Executive, said:

“Water companies need to invest billions to strengthen and expand infrastructure to support economic growth, secure our water supplies and end sewage entering our rivers and seas. Although many water companies can live with Ofwat’s decisions, an unprecedented six – serving the majority of customers in England - feel that they have no choice but to appeal to the Competition and Markets Authority. Companies hope it will overturn Ofwat’s decisions so they can get on with the job of helping deliver the Government’s overriding national priority – economic growth.”