Ofwat has told the water companies that competition concerns should not be a barrier to greater collaboration between companies on charging for new connections, saying “it is wrong for companies to use competition law as a reason not to collaborate to the benefit of customers.”

Water industry regulator Ofwat has launched a new consultation on charging rules for new connections to existing networks which come into effect on 1^st April next year.

Ofwat has decided to postpone the implementation of the new charging rules framework for new connection services provided by English water companies until 2018 - some stakeholders have expressed concerns that charges are too complex, unpredictable and unfair.