Cathryn Ross, Chief Executive of Ofwat, has reassured water company Chief Executives that Ofwat’s work on assessing the benefits of extending competition to domestic customers in England will not compromise the timescales for non-household retail market opening and its work on the policy framework and methodology for PR19.

New proposals by Ofwat look set to usher even more competition into the UK water sector, including plans to open up the market for increased water trading, energy generation from sewage sludge and more direct procurement of large-scale infrastructure investments like the Thames Tideway Tunnel.

Ofwat has launched a new consultation on protecting customers in the non-household retail market through the introduction of a new Customer Protection Code of Practice.

Ofwat has flagged up a new research study as further European context to its findings on water affordability – yesterday the water industry regulator published its report on Affordability and debt 2014-15 which calls for the water companies to do more to help customers struggling to pay.

New regulations to create increased competition between England and Wales and Scotland via cross border applications allowing for an application to one regulator (Ofwat or WICS) to be treated as if it had been made to the other will come into force in April 2016.