The review was launched by the UK Government and Welsh Government in August 2010 as a ‘health check’ of the existing arrangements.
The review also considers the arrangements for representing customers in the water sector, currently undertaken by the Consumer Council for Water.
The review team concluded that no major changes are needed in the statutory framework or regulatory landscape.
It did, however, recommend that Ofwat continues to reduce the burden of regulation it imposes on the water industry.
After considering existing and alternative approaches for consumer representation it concluded that the functions the Consumer Council for Water carries out in protecting water customers should be retained by the organization.
UK ministers will respond to the review’s recommendations in the Water White Paper to be published later this year. Welsh Ministers will decide on how to respond to the recommendations in due course.
Alison Brown