Committee begins taking evidence on the work of Ofwat
The Industry and Regulators Committee will begin its programme of evidence sessions on the work of Ofwat, the UK’s water regulator, by hearing from Rt Hon Philip Dunne MP, Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee. Giving evidence in a personal capacity, Dunne will be asked about the regulator’s powers to tackle poor environmental performance in the water sector, the Government’s guidance to the regulator on the environment and investment, and the difficulties of raising bills to pay for infrastructure investment during a cost of living crisis. The Committee will then hear from expert consultants on how the regulator manages trade-offs between its objectives, whether its Price Review process promotes sufficient levels of investment and financial models in the water sector.
Meeting details
Possible questions include:
- Does Ofwat have the necessary powers and resources to meet its objectives?
- Does Ofwat receive sufficient strategic guidance from the Government on how to balance its objectives, including in relation to balancing the need for investment with the level of consumer bills?
- Should Ofwat be doing more to ensure that money in the water sector flows into investment, rather than out into executive pay and dividends?
- Do water companies truly fear the consequences of regulatory interventions, such as fines, or are they seen as a cost of doing business?