Water firms look to increase bills amid fears of £400m National Insurance hit December 8, 2024 Water companies are hoping billpayers will carry the cost of a £400m hit from rising national insurance contributions over the next five years, previously announced in the Autumn Budget. The accumulated cost to all water firms’ in England and Wales comes to £80m per year, water industry sources told the Sunday Times. Firms have now [...]
Ofwat blocks nine water firms from using customer cash for hefty bonuses November 21, 2024 Ofwat said it would use new powers to prevent customers paying for £6.8m in payouts across the industry, 73 per cent of the total.
Don’t sit back and watch Thames Water ‘car crash,’ ministers told November 18, 2024 Union warnings come after a Guardian investigation alleged Britain's biggest water company is in a far worse financial state than previously thought.
SSE and United Utilities: Dividends in the spotlight as utility giants report November 10, 2024 Both SSE and United Utilities could increase dividends next week, in their respective half-year results announcements.
Thames Water backers table £3bn debt offer in scramble to shore up finances November 7, 2024 A group of Thames Water’s bondholders have tabled a £3bn debt offer to the beleaguered firm today as it scrambles to shore up its finances.
Thames Water launches £3bn emergency fundraising drive October 25, 2024 Thames Water has launched a £3bn fundraising drive to help pay off some of the struggling utility’s large debt pile. The water company has just £500m in cash, and hopes the new money will extend its ability to function for at least another year. Thames Water said today that the money will allow the firm [...]
Scrapping Ofwat could be considered by new water sector commission October 22, 2024 Scrapping watchdog Ofwat could be considered by a new independent commission on the water sector as ministers aim to attract investment into the industry. Ministers have launched the largest review of the sector since it was privatised, with the commission set to be chaired by former deputy Bank of England Governor Sir Jon Cunliffe. It [...]
What’s really going wrong with water? October 16, 2024 Water has become a political weapon, but yet more regulation is not the answer to attracting the investment we need, says Lord Dominic Johnson Water Water Everywhere! It was very clear from the last election that water has been weaponised. Everyone seems to be deeply unhappy – the consumers, the politicians, the regulators, the investors, [...]
Macquarie set to pledge £20bn new UK investment at Labour summit October 13, 2024 Australian infrastructure giant Macquarie is planning £20bn of new investment in the UK in a reprieve for Keir Starmer ahead of Labour's flagship investment summit.
Thames Water creditors in talks with Ofwat for debt rescue plan October 9, 2024 A creditor group has held a meeting with water watchdog Ofwat this week, to pitch plans to keep the troubled Thames Water out of state ownership