The water industry regulator, Ofwat, has taken two more steps in its bid to increase competition in the water industry.

Ofwat yesterday published its first major consultation on how it will set price limits for customers' water and sewerage bills for the five years from 2010 to 2015. The consultation paper describes the approach that the regulator will take to make sure that the prices companies charge their customers are designed to deliver the best results for those customers.

Water industry regulator Ofwat has opened a consultation on a range of options for introducing effective market competition into the water and sewerage sectors in England and Wales.

Ofwat has launched a consultation about its future charging strategy for the water industry.

Ofwat has written to the water and wastewater companies setting outs its guidance on how it expects each company to design its public sewerage system to deliver best value for consumers over the long term.

Ofwat has issued guidance on setting leakage targets to the water and sewerage companies.

Regina Finn, Chief Executive of Ofwat,  has written to the Managing Directors of all water and sewerage companies and water only companies to inform them of the outcome of the review of companies' systems, procedures and controls for compliance with customer service regulations and reporting of customer service data to Ofwat.

Ofwat has granted Independent Water Networks Limited (IWNL) its third inset appointment which will enable the company to supply water to a new development of 162 homes at Great Billing Way in Northampton.

The Head of Comparative Efficiency at Ofwat has written to the Regulatory Directors of the water companies to set out in greater detail Ofwat’s policy for the 2009 periodic review and the information requirements for the PR09 business plans the companies will have to submit for the next investment cycle.

Ofwat has fined Thames Water 0.7% of turnover (£9.7 million) for misreporting information and delivering poor service to customers.