The House of Lords' EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee has launched a short inquiry on environment and climate change policy after Brexit.

The Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) has warned today that customers will end up disappointed if household water competition goes ahead based on an overly optimistic review by Ofwat.

A new consultation launched by Ofwat on setting licence fees in the new retail market has flagged up the potential for higher costs and uncertainties surrounding the early stages of the competitive market which opens in April 2017.

With less than six months to go until the opening of the non-household water market in England, fewer than one in ten business customers may be aware they will soon be able to switch supplier, according to new research by the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater).

Ofwat has contrasted competitive retail markets where there has been radical change, with innovation, and technology-led advances in customer service with the water sector, describing the possibilities offered by advances in technology as having “largely been left unfulfilled.”

Ofwat has decided to postpone the implementation of the new charging rules framework for new connection services provided by English water companies until 2018 - some stakeholders have expressed concerns that charges are too complex, unpredictable and unfair.