The Competition Commission (CC) has today (23 April) provisionally cleared South Staffs Water's completed acquisition of Cambridge Water.
The CC was asked in January to decide whether the merger may be expected to prejudice the ability of the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) to make comparisons between water enterprises for the purposes of assessing performance and setting price controls.
CC Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the South Staffs/Cambridge Water Inquiry Group, Simon Polito, said:
“On balance, we do not believe the merger will significantly hinder Ofwat’s task of assessing water companies’ performance and setting price controls.
“The use of comparisons between companies has been central to the regulation of the industry, and is likely to play a significant role for the foreseeable future, although we recognize that there are likely to be changes arising from both the Government Water White Paper and Ofwat’s proposed changes to regulating the sector.
“We have looked at how having one fewer company could affect the precision of Ofwat’s quantitative assessments and to what extent the companies’ performance in areas such as efficiency and service quality could be used as benchmarks to challenge and improve the performance of other water companies. Whereas Cambridge Water’s approach to customer service has provided a benchmark for some other water companies, there are areas where the merged company would be able to set higher standards than before.
“In coming to a provisional clearance decision, we were conscious that there will still be 18 independently-managed water companies to compare, including companies which could provide a small company’s perspective to regulatory debates and customer service.”
The CC is expected to publish its final decision by 20 June 2012.
In a TV show that will explain the complex journey of the wastewater treatment process, Lakeside Equipment Corporation is set to feature in US Public Television’s All Access program with Andy Garcia.
Environmental Services & Solutions (ESS) Expo, the UK’s largest environmental event, has released the full speaker programme for its 2025 event, which now features seven shows spanning all corners of the environmental sector, under one roof at the NEC Birmingham.
We are exhibiting at WWEM – Water, Wastewater and Environmental Management Expo, which is one of the eight exhibitions taking place at the NEC, Birmingham 17-18 September 2025 as part of ESS Expo 2025. Please come along and visit us at Stand WW-S60.
Publication of the Independent Water Commission’s Final Report, alongside new legislation and updated national standards, marks a major turning point in the wider adoption of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) by water companies and developers, according to Alex Stephenson, director, SuDSPlanter.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video. 
What is to be done about the UK’s failing utilities? Listen to Professor Dieter Helm explore the options to tackle the UK’s failing utilities – Thames Water, the Royal Mail and Network Rail in particular.