Water industry regulator Ofwat has launched a new discussion paper on how new companies will have access to the systems and services provided by the current monopoly water and sewerage and water only companies when the non-household sector opens for competition in May 2017.

Severn Trent Water has called for Ministers to set "clear priorities for future investment" in a new report which looks at how environmental legislation like the EU Water Framework Directive can be implemented in a way that delivers environmental improvements whilst keeping water bills affordable.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Chair Anne McIntosh has backed calls for UK water companies to ‘look closely’ before raising prices following Environment Secretary Owen Paterson letter to companies calling on them to recognise people's financial strain.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has written today to water companies to ensure customers get the best possible deal from the water sector and urging them to keep prices down.

Following an analysis of the water companies' PR14 quality assurance processes for data submissions for their business plans, Ofwat has described them as “not fit for purpose” and wants them to assess the effectiveness of their processes “as a matter of urgency.”

Water industry regulator Ofwat has launched what it describes as an informal consultation on Thames Water’s price limits for 2014-15 –which could potentially result in a decrease, rather than an increase, for customers’ bills.

Water regulator Ofwat has developed a financial model to help it assess the water companies' AMP6 business plans as part of the PR14 price review.