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Ofwat today welcomed the publication of the Water Bill. Philip Fletcher, Director General of Water Services, said: "We welcome the proposed creation of a regulatory authority, an independent WaterVoice (Consumer Council for Water) and other improvements to the regulatory environment set out in the Water Bill. We have anticipated many of them in the way we now operate. We have set up an Ofwat Board with as many independent non-executive as executive directors. And we already treat WaterVoice as though it is an independent consumer representative. "To promote regulatory consistency the Government has agreed that it will not implement the regulatory authority and an independent WaterVoice until after completion of the next periodic review in 2005. "We are pleased that the Water Bill proposes a formal framework for competition in self-lay, common carriage and retailing, removing much of the uncertainty that surrounds the application of the Competition Act 1998 to these issues. "Much work will be needed to prepare for implementing the new licensing and self-lay proposals. As soon as practicable, we will establish industry working groups where representatives of key stakeholders will have the opportunity to guide the detailed development of the regime." Note to Editors: 1. The Director General of Water Services is the economic regulator of the water and sewerage industries in England and Wales. He exercises his powers in a way that he judges will allow them to carry out their functions properly, and finance them. Customers' interests are represented by WaterVoice. 2. Self-lay occurs where developers or their contractors (self-lay organisations) install new water mains and service pipes instead of asking the water company to do the work. 3. Common carriage occurs when more than one licensed water company uses the same network to supply its customers. 4. Ofwat will set price limits for companies for 2005-06 to 2009-10 in November 2004. The consultation paper, "Setting price limits for 2005-10: Framework and approach", and a separate summary, are available from Ofwat's library (0121 625 1373) and on Ofwat's website, http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/aptrix/ofwat/publish.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/ pr04_framework_151002.pdf/$FILE/pr04_framework_151002.pdf MEDIA ENQUIRIES TO OFWAT PRESS OFFICE ON: 0121 625 1416/1496/1442 Out of hours enquiries to pager: 08700 555 500 water 503/509. Ofwat publications and press notices can be found on Ofwat's website at: www.ofwat.gov.uk  | ||||||
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