Ofwat report (42 pages, PDF) on the expenditure and pricing proposals put forward by water and sewerage undertakers in England and Wales in their draft business plans for the Ofwat price control review 2009.

Companies are seeking above-inflation price increases, in part on the basis of plans for greater levels of capital maintenance expenditure and of capital enhancement expenditure to increase capacity.

Ofwat report (39 pages, PDF and 72 pages, PDF) on profitability and capital expenditure by water and sewerage undertakers in England and Wales in the financial year 2007/2008.

Summary (7 pages, PDF) of the Competition Commission provisional finding that the merger of BOC and Ineos Chlor would lead to a substantial lessening of competition. The only remedy consulted on (2 pages, PDF) is prohibition. Responses by Tuesday 30 September 2008.

Ofwat consultation (32 pages, PDF) on proposals to require water and sewerage undertakers to produce additional data returns to Ofwat, allocating each of direct costs, general and support costs, other business activities costs, exceptional items, infrastructure renewal charges, depreciation and amortisation between the following business units:

• Retail
• Water resources
• Raw water distribution
• Water treatment
• Treated water distribution
• Sewage collection
• Sewage treatment
• Sludge treatment
• Sludge disposal

This new stream of reporting would apply from the 2010 June return. It would represent a significant increase in the quantity of data reported: in the current June return, the allocations to activities relate to direct costs only and use a shorter list of activities (water treatment and resources, water distribution, sewerage, sewage treatment, and sludge treatment and disposal).

Responses by Friday 14 November 2008.

Ofwat report (26 pages, PDF and four Microsoft Excel datasets) on the capital expenditure cost base (unit cost) submissions presented by companies as part of the Ofwat price control review 2009.

Ofwat report (34 pages, PDF) on its approach to the regulation of the structure of charges made by water and sewerage undertakers.

Ofwat consultation (8 pages, PDF) on proposed changes to its access pricing guidance (for access under the Water Act 2003's water licensing regime). A brief covering note sets out the consultation process. Responses by Wednesday 24 September 2008.