The UK water sector's total expenditure (totex) is likely to more than double in the upcoming AMP8 2025-2030 regulatory period, according to Fitch Ratings latest UK Water - Relative Credit Analysis report released this morning.

In its January overview of the 2024 Outlook for the UK water sector, Moody’s is warning that the outlook remains negative, reflecting rising social risks.

United Utilities has today submitted its draft AMP8 £13.7 billion business plan proposals for 2025-30 to water sector regulator Ofwat.

Ofwat has issued its final guidance on the assessment of the technical discreteness of projects to be delivered by Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC )– the regulator expects water companies to use the updated guidance in their PR24 business plans and within RAPID schemes.

Fitch Ratings has downgraded Thames Water’s holding company Kemble Water Finance Limited's (Kemble) Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to 'B' from 'B+' and senior secured debt rating to 'B' from 'B+'. The Outlook on the IDR is Negative.

Turner & Townsend has been appointed as Lead Commercial Partner on Northumbrian Water’s Strategic Commercial Framework, as the water company looks to reshape its approach to investment in the network.

Northumbrian Water Group has appointed five partners to new frameworks aimed at reshaping the way it delivers capital investment projects to support the delivery of future asset investment programmes.

Northumbrian Water Group has gone out to tender with a contract for the provision of technical and commercial services relating predominantly to capital investment on both its infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects and programmes worth an estimated £152 million.

Water sector regulator Ofwat says allowed return on capital was "generous to companies" in the 2014 Price Review for the AMP6 2015-2020 investment programme.

Ofwat says the introduction of the “totex and outcomes” framework in the 2014 price review (PR14) has been transformative and delivered a culture change across the water sector.