Fitch Ratings has maintained its ‘neutral’ outlook for UK utilities, as higher electricity network investments should cut transmission curtailment costs and build distribution network capacity ahead of demand.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed is set to establish a new water ombudsman to support customers - the consumer champion will have legal powers to resolve disputes to put money back in people’s pockets.

The Office for Environmental Protection has called on the Government to take urgent action on progressing the environmental targets set out in the 25-year Environmental Improvement Plan and statutory targets set for the environment.

A highly critical new report by the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is warning that a failing water sector in which “water companies increasingly look like financial institutions rather than businesses servicing monopolised critical infrastructure” is in need of “root and branch reform”.

The Independent Water Commission is calling for wide-ranging and fundamental change to reset the water sector in England & Wales to address ”deep-rooted, systemic and interlocking failures” in its interim findings released today ahead of its final report this summer.

The independent Strategic Panel, the most senior governance group in the Business Retail Market, is warning the Independent Commission’s water sector review led by Sir Jon Cunliffe against returning all but the very largest business customers (using >50Ml/year) to incumbent monopoly providers, making the case why businesses of all sizes should remain in the market.