Citizens Advice submission to the Ofwat review: ‘PR24 and beyond: Future challenges and opportunities for the water sector’
This submission responds to the Ofwat review for the PR24 and beyond water price controls.
Citizens Advice has a statutory role to represent energy consumers in Great Britain and we believe that there are many crossovers with the water industry.
Regulated monopoly utility companies, now and in the future, need to provide the services that consumers need and that is value for money. The price control process needs to ensure that the heart of any network company business plan is driven by effective stakeholder engagement, and can respond to the changes in consumer preferences, including those relating to environmental concerns, or those from special circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Network companies need to be incentivised to provide the infrastructure and services to deliver quality water and sewerage services but should not be over-rewarded. Ofwat will need to ensure that the price controls of the future have robust evidence to support the calculations for revenue allowances.
We have been pleased to respond to this consultation and look forward to continuing our advocacy for consumers in energy as well as to contribute where there are strong cross-sector factors, such as in this ‘PR24 and beyond’ consultation.