Ofwat continues to protect water and sewerage consumers
Posted: Wednesday 16th May 2007
Ofwat is continuing to protect consumers by ensuring they get value for money for the high quality sustainable water services they receive.
Speaking at the Water for Living Conference today Ofwat Chief Executive, Regina Finn said:
" Without Ofwat the average customer bill, set out in today's report, would be £90 higher. Many households could reduce their bills even more by switching to a water meter and by using water more efficiently. "
The 'Water and Sewerage charges 2007-08 report' out today, explains how Ofwat reviews charges' schemes for each company to ensure that charges are fair, non-discriminatory and cost-reflective. The report highlights that:
As a result of Ofwat's ongoing investigations into customer service failures Thames Water has returned £2.7 million, and Southern Water has returned around £3.4 million to customers;
A challenge from Ofwat led Tendring Hundred Water to discover an accounting error which had led to customers being overcharged. The company has returned £1 million to customers in 2007-08;
Ofwat has approved a new tariff introduced by Wessex Water which is aimed at customers in financial difficulty who are struggling to pay their bills. The regulator also backed South West Water's scheme which aims to help 7,500 customers to pay their bills over the next three years;
Ofwat has also blocked changes to companies' tariff proposals that were not in the interests of water customers. Thames Water's proposed increases in large user tariffs were rejected because of possible undue discrimination against commercial customers.
