Appendix: Timeline and principles for deciding water PR24 redetermination references Timeline of water PR24 redetermination references 1. On 19 December 2024, the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat ) gave notice to Anglian Water Services Limited, Northumbrian Water Limited, South East Water Limited, Southern Water Services Limited and Wessex Water Services Limited (together, the Disputing Companies ) of a determination under Condition B of the Appointments of the Price Controls for the period from 1 April 2025 ( PR24 ). 2.
By the deadline of 18 February 2025 and, as provided for by Part V of Condition B of their Appointments, the five Disputing Companies had disputed their respective determinations and required Ofwat to refer them to the Competition and Markets Authority ( CMA ). 3. On 18 March 2025, Ofwat, as required by section 12(3)(a) of the Water Industry Act 1991 (the Act ) and the Appointments, referred these five disputed determinations to the CMA (the References ). The CMA was required to report on and redetermine the disputed determinations within a period of six months from 18 March 2025. 4.
On 1 April 2025, following a request from the CMA, Ofwat decided that, given the nature and scale of the work involved in five water industry price control references and the associated procedural complexity, there are special reasons why the reports cannot be made within the period specified in the References, and so extended the period specified in the References by six months. The CMA therefore has a period of twelve months beginning with the date of the References to report on and determine the disputed determinations, with the statutory deadline being 17 March 2026. Principles for deciding water references 5.
As noted in paragraph 22 above, where a reference is made to the CMA by Ofwat (on request of a Disputing Company), the CMA is to decide the matter on its own merits in accordance with the principles that apply to Ofwat that include various statutory duties. 32 6. Ofwat’s general statutory duties are split into primary and secondary duties. In the text below we refer to ‘water companies’ as a shorthand. The relevant paragraphs 32 The Act, section 12(3) and the Guide ( CMA205) , paragraph 2.2. 25