A new Challenge Co-ordination Group has been established by CCW, with Caroline Warner appointed as its independent chair.

Colin Skellett Chief Executive of Wessex Water, says the company remains "disappointed that the Ofwat price determination required bill reductions when the message from customers was that they favoured stable bills and more investment."

Moody's Investors Service has announced that it has downgraded to Baa1 from A3 the backed senior unsecured debt ratings of Wessex Water Services Finance Plc. The outlook is stable.

United Utilities has gone out to tender with a contract for corporate finance and venture capital services worth £2 million to support its £750 million Manchester and Pennines Resilience (MaPR) scheme in AMP7.

In an Expert Focus article for Waterbriefing, Richard Whale, water market director for Atkins (a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group), provides a viewpoint of Ofwat’s interim responses to the PR19 submissions.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove has said that the private water sector model delivers the best outcomes for customers and environment at the best value price – but only when underpinned by strong regulation and companies working harder in the public interest, not just in the interest of shareholders.

Southern Water is looking for a number of expert advisors to provide business and management consultancy and related services in the run-up to AMP7.

South West Water has announced details of a £1 billion-plus investment plan for 2020-25, including a £20 million shareholder deal for customers.

Ofwat has set out its expectations for high quality and well evidenced proposals for direct procurement for customers (DPCs) in the water companies' PR19 business plans for the upcoming Price Review in 2019.