(by Verity Mitchell) As 2025 draws to a close, Thames Water is continuing to draw down its emergency loans, invest and make operational improvements. In the background, at not inconsiderable cost, its creditor group continues to negotiate with Ofwat on a revised longer-term financial arrangement to secure the utility’s refinancing. Thames Water has deferred awarding bosses retention payments totalling £2.5m to avoid public censure. The retention payment package for 21 senior

(by Karma Loveday) A statutory report by Defra to Parliament on the progress of the Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan (SODPR) shows mixed results in the first three years. Between August 2022 when the plan was published (it was extended in 2023) until August 2025, progress against the targets was as follows:  The target for storm overflows discharging into or near ‘high priority sites’ (HPS) such as chalk streams not to cause local adverse ecological impact by 2045 – pe

(by Karma Loveday) Governments should consider setting minimum water usage effectiveness (WUE) and power usage effectiveness (PUE) standards for new data centre facilities. That was one of five priorities set out in a major new report from the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) defining the importance of water to the success of the data centre sector in Australia. WSAA said its research is intended to inform water and data sector planners, policy-makers and stakeh

(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