(by Verity Mitchell) Since 2017, water companies in England have played a significant role in the UK's green finance sector, issuing approximately one fifth of the UK’s green bonds. This amounts to £10.5bn in bonds dedicated to supporting projects described as delivering environmental benefits, according to research conducted by Unearthed, an investigative unit within Greenpeace UK. Anglian Water has been the largest issuer in the sector, issuing £3.5bn in green bonds, while

(by Verity Mitchell) Revenue at Yorkshire Water increased by 28% to £833m in the half-year, the result of the increased price allowance for the first year of AMP8. Operating profit increased by 60% to £278.7m. Capital expenditure fell from £404.3m to £395.8m. The company said that “the marginal decrease is due to the start of the new AMP as we move to the earlier stage of the cycle and are now building up the investment programme.” It stated that a “focus for us over the firs

(by Verity Mitchell) South Staffs has reported half-year results. Turnover increased to £96.6m from £75.9m, driven by the new price control. Operating profit before exceptional items grew to £24.2m from £15.8m. Debt/RCV decreased substantially to 61.1% from 69.4%, reflecting the delay in the ramp-up of capital expenditure. Purchase of tangible fixed assets in its cashflow statement fell slightly to £19.3m from £20.3m. Management flagged that, because of the prolonged hot and

(by Verity Mitchell) Revenue for the half-year at Affinity Water increased by 20.9%, primarily due to AMP8 tariff rises and a rise in consumption due to the hot weather over the summer. Operating profit increased by 62.5% to £42m, driven by the increase in revenue and energy price reduction, and offset by a rise in inflation and increased operational costs due to the hot weather's impact. Shareholders have committed to inject £150m of equity into the company by 31 March 2026.

(by Verity Mitchell) Operating profit in Southern Water’s half-year results rebounded from a loss to £186.9m, benefitting from a 47% regulated revenue increase from the new price controls. Its capital expenditure was up only 5% to 483.6m, a significantly slower start compared to peers that recorded double digit growth. Management admitted that the balance sheet remained under pressure. The outcome of the Competition and Markets Authority’s provisional redetermination has allo

(by Verity Mitchell) Total revenues at Wessex Water increased by £45.5m to £332.5m, up 15.8%, mainly due to price rises permitted under regulatory mechanisms, according to a commentary on its half-year results. Operating profit increased by 25% from £78m to £97.7m. Bad debt charges grew by £0.7m because of the effect of new pricing but were lower as a proportion of overall household revenues. Net capital investment for the six months was £248m, a significant increase on £189.

(by Verity Mitchell) Anglian Water’s half-year revenue increased by 20.8%, reflecting regulatory price changes and higher household demand. Operating profit increased by 37.8% to £376.1m. Capital expenditure was up 3.6% to £547.3m — a smaller increase than the double digit increases of some of its peers. The company has made progress in key areas such as water recycling, tackling internal and external flooding, and reducing blockages. In Ofwat’s 2024/25 Water Company Perform

(by Karma Loveday) Several areas have announced a change in drought status, following recent wet weather and 149% of long-term average rainfall in November.   The East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire have moved into recovery status. Yorkshire Water has removed its hosepipe ban. It said its reservoir levels are now at 91.6%, and that Hull aquifer levels are at 77%, and that this means that available water resources across reservoirs, rivers, and groundwater sources are a

(by Karma Loveday) The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) has set out some “non-negotiable” principles that it has urged Ofwat to follow as it works on the long-term sustainability of Thames Water. In a letter, CCW chair Rob Wilson told Ofwat chair Iain Coucher to pay heed to the following as it assesses any current or future proposal from creditors or candidates to become Thames’ new owners: No special treatment on enforcement — Thames Water must be held fully accountable for

(by Karma Loveday) Consumer Scotland is seeking greater transparency in how customer complaints are reported in the Scottish water sector. It argued this would help drive further service improvements and boost accountability. In a report, the statutory customer body noted that Scottish Water does not currently publish as detailed or accessible a breakdown of customer complaints as available in the English and Welsh water sector, or in the energy, communications and financial