Election delays draft determinations by a month, prompting concerns for PR24 schedule

Ofwat has rescheduled its PR24 draft determinations announcement for 11 July from 12 June, following the announcement of a general election on 4 July.

The price controls will still come into effect on 1 April. This has fuelled concern in the industry that the time water companies have to respond to Ofwat’s draft decisions, which was nine weeks (by 14 June), could be compressed.

Ofwat said it would confirm the impact on the rest of the price review process, but that it would certainly need to reschedule its ‘Your Water Your Say’ sessions, planned for June.

The new government could feasibly influence the draft determinations in the week following the election, but more likely will feed views into the final determinations, which were planned for December.