The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee will continue its inquiry on the work of Ofwat today by taking evidence from former Ofwat chair, Jonson Cox.
The Committee launched its inquiry into the work of the Water Services Regulation Authority on 23rd May 2022 to consider Ofwat’s performance against its statutory objectives, whether it has the powers and resources needed to meet them, together with the regulator’s relationship with the Government and other regulators.
Former Ofwat Chair Jonson Cox is now Chair of the Port of London Authority. The Committee will discuss how to ensure future water supply in the context of the ongoing drought in many areas of England and Wales, and question whether the Government and the regulator achieve the right balance between allowing environmental investment and ensuring consumer bills are affordable, as well as how to support those struggling to pay their water bills.
The Committee will also consider the performance of water companies and whether the regulator has held them to account sufficiently.
Possible questions today’s evidence session with the ex-Ofwat Chair will cover include:
- What sorts of strategic solutions are needed to ensure future water supply? Should solutions such as compulsory water metering and water transfers be considered?
- How does Ofwat find a balance between allowing water companies to invest in the environment and ensuring consumer bills remain affordable? Is more guidance needed from the Government in this area?
- Should a single social tariff be introduced covering all water companies in England and Wales, so that the same support for those struggling to pay their bills is available regardless of postcode?
- Do water companies truly fear the consequences of regulatory action, and if so, is this fear a financial or merely reputational one? Are stronger sanctions needed for failing companies?
Jonson Cox will appear before the Committee in an oral evidence session which will run from 10:30 to 12pm and can be watched live or later via Parliament TV.
The next oral evidence session will take place on Tuesday 13 September when Peter Perry, CEO at Welsh Water and Sarah Bentley, CEO at Thames Water will appear before the Committee.
Click here to watch the evidence session on Parliament TV.
The transcript of the evidence session has now been published - click here to read and download the transcript in full.
Near-real-time microbial monitoring of wastewater discharge and bathing waters is now possible thanks to the BactoSense ID solution created by Swiss-based bNovate Technologies.
ABB has launched AquaMaster+™, a digital platform for smart water network management, designed to help water utilities monitor, analyze and manage their water networks, preventing pipeline water losses and optimizing operations.
Craig Nienaber, Business Development Manager for Safe Access Solutions (SAS) at HUBER Technology, explores why the company is seeing a growing level of interest in its safe access solutions for critical infrastructure providers, including their application in wastewater treatment assets.
Albion Water, the first NAV (New Appointment & Variation) to have been established in1999 and now under the ownership of SDS Water Group, has appointed Andy Holland as its new Director of Business Development.
Southern Water has released film and images showing what it’s like to walk inside Hampshire’s expanded Yew Hill underground reservoir for the very last time, before it gets filled with water.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.