Statement on Ofwat and rebuilding public trust in the water sector READ MORE HERE: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/statement-on-ofwat-and-rebuilding-public-trust-in-the-water-sector

Ofwat, the water regulator, has confirmed that it has turned down Thames Water's request to increase customer bills by up to 8% next year. Thames had asked to add an extra £29, or 8%, to the annual average household bill for 2014-15. But the regulator has ruled that it must stick to a 1.4%-above-inflation maximum rise, set in the latest price review. The company said it was reviewing the decision carefully. It has the option to appeal against the decision to the Competition Commission. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24864714

Ofwat, the water regulator, says it plans to block Thames Water's request to increase customer bills by up to 8% next year. The regulator has published a draft decision blocking Thames Water's request for the interim increase. Thames had asked to add an extra £29 to the annual average household bill. The draft decision will be followed by a short period of consultation to allow for any new evidence. The final decision is due in November. Thames says it has faced extra costs of £291m, because various items have cost more than the amount estimated when the price regime was set in 2009. Ofwat and Thames disagree about how much these items will cost the company. These include bad debts, the transfer of private sewers, land purchases and higher Environment Agency charges and could not be fully estimated at the time. As part of the regulatory process, Thames Water had planned to apply for an increase once the figures were known, In response to Ofwat's statement, it said: "We will review Ofwat's draft proposals and submit our response in due course." Evidence Every five years, Ofwat sets the prices that water companies can charge. It said it had now looked at the evidence that Thames Water had provided and that although the company did face higher costs, they were not high enough to trigger a price rise. Thames is the only one of the 18 regulated water companies to have applied to the regulator for a bill increase in advance of the next pricing review. Ofwat's chief regulation officer, Sonia Brown, said: "We said we would challenge Thames Water's request. We have looked at the details and do not believe the current evidence justifies an increase in bills." The regulator's consultation on its draft decision gives all parties, including Thames Water, the opportunity to submit new evidence. Any price increase would start from April next year. Ofwat's previous agreement with Thames allows it to increase charges by 1.4% above inflation in 2014-15. More on this story...

Please if you live alone or a couple.If you have no garden or use the Launderette for your washing study if a water meter would be beneficial for you.The Water Companies in league with Ofwat do not want to publicise water meters and their policy is still the same as in 1999 when these minutes of a meeting were made. JM explained that NWT would include with the bill a statement that there was a meter option available and ask its customers if they would like any further information. JM said that they had considered not explaining that a meter would be fitted free at this stage. However, people requesting further information would receive literature stating that the meter option was free of charge. The CSC supported a low key approach in promoting the free meter entitlement. CW asked how NWT would promote the free meter option to unmeasured customers experiencing payment difficulties who could benefit from moving to a measured charge. JM explained that if an unmeasured customer is having difficulty in paying its bill NWT will advise the customer that it may be beneficial for them to have a meter installed i.e. depending on the rateable value of its property and typical usage. CW stressed that they should continue to promote the meter option to vulnerable customers.” YOUR CURRENT YEARLY BILL UNITED UTILITIES FIGURES ONE PERSON £300-£400 SAVINGS £45-£145 £400-£500 SAVINGS £145-£245 £500-£600 SAVINGS £245-£345 TWO PEOPLE £400-£500 SAVINGS £28-£128 £500-£600 SAVINGS £128-£228