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Ofwat today published proposals to modify the licence of Southern Water following last year's Competition Commission inquiry into Vivendi's bid for the company. The modification will require Southern Water to provide extra information on the water services that it supplies to the Hampshire area and the Isle of Wight. This will include the condition of the company's assets; its capital and operating costs and the reliability of water supplies. The extra data will help Ofwat to continue to be able to make robust comparisons of companies' costs and performance when it sets water price limits. Last November Competition Minister Melanie Johnson accepted the Competition Commission's conclusion that Vivendi's proposed take-over of Southern Water would be against the public interest because Vivendi already owned a number of other companies. She agreed with the recommendation that it should only go ahead if a satisfactory remedy could be found. The Competition Minister accepted Vivendi's decision to divest its stake in South Staffordshire Water and acquire a minority stake in Southern Water provided it supplied additional data for the Hampshire area. In an industry that is still, and likely to remain, largely a group of regional and local monopolies, customers' interests are best served by having a diversity of independently-owned water companies striving to achieve the efficiency gains of top performing companies. Note to Editors: 1. The Director General of Water Services is the economic regulator of the water and sewerage companies 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. WaterVoice represents customers' interests. 2. Any representations about, or objections to, these proposals must be sent in writing to the Director General of Water Services, Centre City Tower, 7 Hill Street, Birmingham, B5 4UA (fax: 0121-625 3609) or by e-mail to keith.mason@ofwat.gsi.gov.uk, to be received no later than 5.00pm on 21 July. Please quote reference LEG 31/1/13 3. A copy of the proposal will be available from the Ofwat website on www.ofwat.gov.uk or from the Ofwat library on 0121 625 1373. MEDIA ENQUIRIES TO OFWAT PRESS OFFICE ON: 0121 625 1442/1496/1416 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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