Water regulator Ofwat has published a “lessons learned report” on its internal budget planning and forecasting process which failed to anticipate the need to seek a significant increase in its 2013-14 budget and budget forecast for 2014-15.

Ofwat’s forward work programme includes plans to start work with the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland on the development of a joint Anglo-Scottish retail market and a review of the water and wastewater companies’ operating licences.

An interview with the Open Water Director Keith Fowler sets out the next steps in 2014 for the Programme to support and promote effective retail water and sewerage competition for non-household customers ahead of the January 2017 ‘go live’ date.

The Government’s Water Bill has now completed both its Report Stage and Third Reading debates on the 6 January in the House of Commons.

The Open Water Programme has today launched the first version of the consultation its proposed Market Blueprint for retail competition in water and sewerage services.

Credit ratings agency Moody's has said that Ofwat’s changes to the price review process announced last week will be credit negative for the UK water sector and put highly leveraged companies like Anglian Water Services, Thames Water, Yorkshire Water Services Ltd and Southern Water under negative ratings pressure.