promptly as possible, in line with our overriding objective of conducting the redeterminations fairly, efficiently and at proportionate cost within the statutory timeframe. 22. Where, at the request of a Disputing Company, Ofwat makes a reference to the CMA, the CMA must decide the matter on its own merits in accordance with the principles that apply to Ofwat including various statutory duties (see the Appendix). 11 We will undertake the redeterminations in accordance with these principles, but we may make different judgements from Ofwat on how they should be interpreted and balanced. 23.
The Disputing Companies have provided their statements of case ( SoCs ) and Ofwat has provided its responses. 12 We have also sought submissions from third parties on the issues raised in the Ofwat references and the Disputing Companies’ SoCs, and any other issues that we should consider as part of our redeterminations. We received submissions from a variety of third parties, including customer representative bodies, environmental protection groups, other water companies, investors, and environmental and business representative bodies. These submissions are published on the CMA case page . 24.
We have so far received more than 70 submissions totalling over 3,000 pages ( around 20 from the Disputing Companies, more than 10 from Ofwat and around 40 from third parties) appended to which were over 2,000 supporting documents. In addition we have received more than 10 responses so far to our detailed requests for information. Issues and approach 25. We set out below the approach we have taken to identifying and prioritising the issues that we propose to address and the proposed depth of analysis. Fairly, efficiently, at proportionate cost within the statutory timetable 26. We have taken the Disputing Companies’ SoCs, Ofwat’s responses and third party submissions as our starting point.
The SoCs tend to outline general objections and issues of principle with the price control framework, before setting out specific requests to remedy particular issues in the redeterminations. 27. Mindful of our overriding objective to carry out the redeterminations fairly, efficiently and at proportionate cost within the statutory timeframe: 13 11 Guide ( CMA205) , paragraph 2.2, and Water Industry Act 1991, section 12(3). 12 In addition to these, Disputing Companies have provided submissions on each other’s SoCs, and replies to Ofwat’s responses. Ofwat has also provided a short response to the Disputing Companies’ submissions on each other’s SoCs. 13 Rules ( CMA204 ), Rule 4. 8