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ARTICLE · 10 SEPTEMBER 2007

OFWAT Consultation On Competition In The Water/Sewerage Sector

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On 13 July, Ofwat launched an in-depth consultation into how to improve competition in the water and sewerage industries in England and Wales, for the benefit of water customers.

United KingdomAntitrust/Competition Law
Diarmuid Ryan
Diarmuid Ryan

On 13 July, Ofwat launched an in-depth consultation into how to improve competition in the water and sewerage industries in England and Wales, for the benefit of water customers. Ofwat held a discussion forum on the consultation on 20 July in Birmingham. Ofwat is now inviting written comments by 28 September 2007.

In the consultation document, Ofwat seeks third party views on a number of definite proposals for reform of the existing rules governing the regulation of water and sewerage suppliers, as well as views on possible avenues of fundamental reform of the basic approach to regulation of the industry (in many ways bringing the regulation of water in line with how other utilities are or have been regulated). Therefore, this consultation is extremely broad-ranging and effectively sets the framework for a fundamental review of the way in which the water and sewerage industry is regulated in England and Wales.

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