Labour lines up advisers for Thames Water administration August 12, 2025 Labour ministers have reached out to top insolvency practitioners in the scenario Thames Water falls into special administration, it has been reported. The UK’s largest water company is at a crisis point after private equity giant KKR pulled out of a multi-billion pound investment deal that could have offered it a lifeline given Thames Water [...]
Will Labour be our sewage saviour or find themselves up the creek? July 23, 2025 Water companies need flexibility and lower compliance costs, not overzealous regulation that will drive private investment away, says Kitty Thompson Sewage has dominated the environmental conversation for years. Responding to public pressure, successive governments have lumbered water companies with more and more regulatory burdens in an attempt to show that they are tackling the issue. [...]
Ofwat to be scrapped in sweeping water reforms July 21, 2025 Ofwat is set to be abolished and replaced by a “single, powerful regulator” aimed at cutting water pollution and protecting families from higher bills, the government has revealed. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has said operations conducted in England by Ofwat will be merged with the Environment Agency, Natural England and [...]
Ofwat to be replaced with ‘new regulator’ amid Thames Water crisis July 18, 2025 Ofwat, the water watchdog, is expected to be abolished and replaced by a new body next week after facing intense scrutiny over sewage firms and the poor performance of major companies including Thames Water, according to reports. A consultation on the creation of a new regulator is expected to be announced next week after results [...]
Regulators ‘appear unable’ to stop water firms acting unlawfully, MPs warn July 18, 2025 A group of influential MPs have called for a “low risk, low return” water sector and urged the government to strengthen regulatory powers amid scrutiny over excessive dividends and murky company structures. In a wide-reaching report, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) warned that the “financial fragility” of a few large utilities had caused investors to [...]
‘At least a decade’ to turn Thames Water around, CEO says amid £1.6bn loss July 15, 2025 The boss of Thames Water has said it will take “at least a decade” to turn the company around as it posted a loss of £1.6bn. The loss for the year to end March compares to a small profit of £157m the prior year and comes despite an 8.7 per cent rise in turnover during [...]
South West Water to pay £24m to avoid fine from Ofwat over leaks July 10, 2025 South West Water is to invest £24m into its network and local environment to avoid being fined by the industry regulator after a failure to manage its wastewater network led to unnecessary leaks. Ofwat said the utility had “failed to build” and operate its wastewater treatment works and sewer network to “ensure they performed sufficiently.” [...]
Thames Water bosses face fresh grilling from MPs over bonus row July 9, 2025 Thames Water bosses have been hauled back in front of MPs after accusations of a “lack of transparency” surrounding bonuses carved out of an emergency loan. The crisis-hit utility has refused to take back nearly £2.5m it paid to a host of senior managers from the £3bn lifeline provided by creditors earlier this year. Some [...]
The truth about infrastructure: investors need a return June 19, 2025 The government is set to unveil it’s 10-year infrastructure strategy. To make it a success, they must dial down the negative rhetoric – especially when it comes to water, says Jon Phillips The government has placed private investment at the heart of its growth mission. So, today’s 10-year infrastructure strategy – setting out the country’s [...]
MP to take Thames Water to Supreme Court over restructuring plan June 17, 2025 A Liberal Democrat MP will take a case against Thames Water’s restructuring to the Supreme Court. Charlie Maynard, MP for Witney, was among a group which included the utility’s secondary creditors, who opposed a £3bn emergency loan agreement earlier this year. Thames Water has been battling to stave off special administration over the last year [...]