Overview

• Anglian, Northumbrian, Southern, Wessex and South East Water have appealed to the CMA to lift caps set by Ofwat, covering 14.7 million customers.
• Ofwat’s December settlement allowed about £104bn of investment and signalled average bills could rise 36% to £597 by 2030, with any extra approved spending added to bills.
• A provisional decision expected in early October is likely to face close scrutiny from the new environment secretary and the public over affordability and pollution concerns.
• S&P Global Ratings says companies are seeking up to £2bn more on top of the five‑year package, while analysts see potential upward adjustments for some firms though the outcome remains uncertain.
• Thames Water has paused its appeal while pursuing restructuring and debt talks, and its owners warn river pollution cleanup across its 16 million‑customer region could take up to 15 years.