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Ofwat
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>Ofwat was set up in 1988, at the same time as 10 <a href="/facts/Water_board/3kb98nVQ">water authorities</a> in England and Wales were privatised by flotation on the stock market. Its duties and powers are defined by the <a href="/facts/Water_Industry_Act_1991/RIvU9m3x">Water Industry Act 1991</a>. The resulting companies are known as "water and sewerage companies"; this distinguishes them from around a dozen smaller companies which only provide water services, which were already in private hands in 1989 (having remained in private ownership since their creation in the 19th century). The water-only companies provide water to around 25% of the population in England and Wales. </p><p>Before 1 April 2006, all regulatory powers rested with the Director General of Water Services. The staff who supported the role of the Director General were collectively known as the "Office of Water Services", which was abbreviated to "Ofwat". <a href="/facts/Ian_Byatt/xFUI2BV3">Ian Byatt</a> was the Director General between 1989 and 2000; <a href="/facts/Philip_Fletcher/S20k78Ht">Philip Fletcher</a> was Director General until 2006 and chairman until 2012. On 1 April 2006, the Director General was replaced by the Water Services Regulation Authority.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> The name "Office of Water Services" is no longer used, as it had no legal basis. </p> <h2 id="key-people">Key people</h2> <p>The current chairman is <a href="/facts/Iain_Coucher/00HnFzEQ">Iain Coucher</a>, who took up his position in July 2022,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> replacing Johnson Cox who had held the position since November 2012.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> Initially taking over from Rachel Fletcher as interim chief executive in April 2021, the current chief executive is David Black who was fully appointed to the role in April 2022.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="price-reviews">Price reviews</h2> <p>Every five years, Ofwat set limits on the prices which water companies in England and Wales can charge to their customers; this process is known as a price review or periodic review.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> Ofwat has carried out six price reviews so far – in 1994 (PR94), 1999 (PR99), 2004 (PR04), 2009 (PR09), 2014 (PR14), 2019 (PR19) and 2024 (PR24). The most recent, PR24, sets price limits for 2025–2030.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> Ofwat sets a so-called "K factor" in companies' licences which determine the average value of price rises above the rate of inflation (<a href="/facts/Retail_Prices_Index_(United_Kingdom)/oPH4AHcQ">RPI</a>) for the next five year <a href="/facts/Asset_management_plan_period/EUao63F4">asset management plan period</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/List_of_United_Kingdom_water_companies/Kplo01rB">List of United Kingdom water companies</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Water_supply_and_sanitation_in_England_and_Wales/9FmyqKPs">Water supply and sanitation in England and Wales</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://ofwat.gov.uk/">Official website</a> </li></ul> <p><a href="https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Ofwat¶ms=52.4763_N_1.8986_W_region:GB">52°28′35″N 1°53′55″W / 52.4763°N 1.8986°W / 52.4763; -1.8986</a> </p> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>The economic regulation of the water sector (PDF) (Report). London: National Audit Office (UK). 8 October 2015. HC487. <a href="https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/The-economic-regulation-of-the-water-sector.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/The-economic-regulation-of-the-water-sector.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Price reviews". London: Ofwat. Retrieved 29 January 2023. <a href="https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/regulated-companies/price-review/" target="_blank">https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/regulated-companies/price-review/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>The economic regulation of the water sector (PDF) (Report). London: National Audit Office (UK). 8 October 2015. HC487. <a href="https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/The-economic-regulation-of-the-water-sector.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/The-economic-regulation-of-the-water-sector.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Our duties". London: Ofwat (Water Services Regulation Authority). Retrieved 23 August 2021. <a href="https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/about-us/our-duties/" target="_blank">https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/about-us/our-duties/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"About Ofwat - contacting us". Ofwat. Retrieved 11 February 2025. <a href="https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/contact-us/about-ofwat/" target="_blank">https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/contact-us/about-ofwat/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>s36 Water Act 2003 coming into force 01/04/06. (s36(1)-(2) in force at 1.4.2006 by S.I. 2005/2714, art. 4(c); s36(3)-(6) in force at 1.4.2005 by S.I. 2005/968, art. 2(e)) <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Iain Coucher Chair". Ofwat. Retrieved 14 March 2024. <a href="https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/iain-coucher-chair/" target="_blank">https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/iain-coucher-chair/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"New Chairman of the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) announced". GOV.UK. Retrieved 14 March 2024. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-chairman-of-the-water-services-regulation-authority-ofwat-announced" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-chairman-of-the-water-services-regulation-authority-ofwat-announced</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"David Black, Chief Executive". Ofwat. Retrieved 14 March 2024. <a href="https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/about-us/who-we-are/david-black-chief-executive/#:~:text=David%20Black%20was%20appointed%20as,of%20Ofwat%20from%20April%202021." target="_blank">https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/about-us/who-we-are/david-black-chief-executive/#:~:text=David%20Black%20was%20appointed%20as,of%20Ofwat%20from%20April%202021.</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"PN 03/21: Ofwat announces new interim Chief Executive". Ofwat. Retrieved 14 March 2024. <a href="https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/03-21-ofwat-announces-new-interim-chief-executive/" target="_blank">https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/03-21-ofwat-announces-new-interim-chief-executive/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>The economic regulation of the water sector (PDF) (Report). London: National Audit Office (UK). 8 October 2015. HC487. <a href="https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/The-economic-regulation-of-the-water-sector.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/The-economic-regulation-of-the-water-sector.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"Price reviews". Ofwat. Retrieved 11 February 2025. <a href="https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/regulated-companies/price-review/" target="_blank">https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/regulated-companies/price-review/</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Hassan, John (1998). A History of Water in modern England and Wales (Report). Manchester University Press. p. 176. <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>