Regulator asks for public input on water company plans

2024 is a mega year for the End Sewage Pollution campaign.

From powering Paddle-Outs and infiltrating election campaigns nationwide, to making its way right to the top of the Defra Secretary of State’s priority list, we’ve already seen a lot. But it doesn’t stop there.

2024 is also the year in which the England and Wales’s water companies are setting out their business plans for the next 5 years. And although this price review might not sound very exciting (even to the biggest sewage pollution warriors), it is in fact a huge opportunity for Ofwat to turn the tide on pollution and force water companies to finally put water users and waterways’ health above their own profit.

So, what is a Price Review?

Price reviews are conducted every five years by the water company regulator, Ofwat.

A review will assess challenges and set targets for all the water companies investments and infrastructure projects across England and Wales. Ofwat are currently consulting on the most recent price review plans, PR24, which will ultimately determine the price water companies can charge its customers and what infrastructure projects they must invest in between 2025 and 2030.

PR24 should also push companies to find new and innovative ways of delivering affordable, reliable and resilient services for all – and they are consulting water company customers on what we think of them, in their upcoming ‘Your water, your say’ meetings.

Business plans timeline

• 13^th December 2022: Ofwat’s final methodology was published.
• Autumn 2023: In October last year, all water companies submitted their business plans to Ofwat for review. These included a proposal for customers to foot the bill of their own wrong doing with eye-watering bill increases for customers, averaging a rise of 40% after inflation. Each company also held two ‘Your water, your say’ meetings in spring and autumn 2023 to allow customers and stakeholders to question them and challenge their plans.
• 11^th July 2024: Just last week, Ofwat published its draft determinations. Unfortunately, Ofwat failed to use their power and missed an opportunity to force Water Companies to clean up their act, with the announcement instead being just another disappointment from a failing regulator. Read our blog to find out more.
• 23^rd and 24^th July 2024: Ofwat are inviting us all to two ‘Your water, your say’ meetings to discuss and answer questions about their draft determinations outlined above.
• 28^th August 2024: Ofwat’s consultations on the decisions will close.
• 19^th December 2024: Ofwat’s final determinations will be published.

How can you get involved?

This is our final chance to have our say before Ofwat agrees to companies plans for good and determine waterways futures for the next 5 years, so let’s make it count.

Last Autumn, Ocean Activists across the UK infiltrated the ‘Your water, your say’ meetings hosted by the water companies to fire crucial questions and speak up for their local waterways – see our blog here – and we want to do the same again for Ofwat’s upcoming meetings!

Take a look at the meetings taking place below, and follow the links to register your attendance.

• For English water companies: Tuesday 23 July 2024, 2-4pm. To attend this meeting, please complete the registration form
• For Welsh water companies: Wednesday 24 July 2024, 2-4pm. To attend this meeting, please complete the registration form

Once you’ve registered we recommend submitting your question ahead of time to Ofwat here. Please include in your email whether the question is for the England or Wales meeting (or both), so it can be allocated to the right Your water, your say meeting.

We are planning to attend to call for better from the regulator and water companies plans.

We will be asking:

• What these plans will mean for our favourite places to surf, swim and paddle and whether we can expect an end to sewage pollution into bathing waters by 2030?
• Whether these plans will ensure water companies will comply with the law to only discharge sewage in exceptional circumstances by 2030?

You are welcome to ask similar questions or think about what this could mean for your local area.

You could ask:

• Whether this price review period will put an end to the sewage pollution you are currently at risk from in your local area?
• Whether you will still be surfing in sewage in your favourite spot by 2030?
• How the regulator is going to ensure water companies deliver on the commitments they have made within this price review and how we can find these plans for your local area to also hold water companies to account?

Thanks, Ocean Activist ✊🌊