Ofwat has today recommended that four strategic regional water resource solutions pass through accelerated gate one - its first checkpoint.

Ofwat is warning the Competition and Markets Authority not to go beyond the CMA’s remit in the PR19 appeals proceedings and not to address requests from water companies which go beyond the scope of the appeals process.

The water sector regulator is looking to set up a panel of experts in economic regulation, development of markets and/or corporate finance to help support the development of its regulatory approach to the next Price Review in 2024 and future assets and resources.

Ofwat has announced Nesta, supported by Arup and Isle Utilities, as its partner for its £200 million water innovation competitions – with the first competition opening in January 2021.

A new report from the National Audit Office has highlighted repeated problems with the delivery of major Government programmes in four key areas: scope, planning, managing interdependencies and oversight.

Ofwat has told the water companies that competition concerns should not be a barrier to greater collaboration between companies on charging for new connections, saying “it is wrong for companies to use competition law as a reason not to collaborate to the benefit of customers.”