22/06/07
Water companies in England and Wales are reporting good financial and operational results for the year to 31 March.
In operational terms customers have benefited from continuing high quality services in both water supply and sewerage. Companies report steady progress with major capital expenditure programmes aimed at improving reliability and meeting statutory obligations for environmental improvement.
The industry is also in good financial health, with profits and returns to investors at expected levels. This reflects strong management control, a continued drive for efficiencies and for most companies higher water bills introduced in April 2006 in line with regulated price limits.
To most people water services are more or less invisible. Many people are also uncertain about the industry's finances and its role as a partner to the state in providing environmental services. So when they read or hear headlines about rising prices or higher profits they wonder if things are being well run.
Water UK has published three briefing notes under the heading 'Water Industry Finance and Investment', designed to explain how the industry works:
1 Priorities and prices
2 Why water services need so much investment
3 Customers and shareholders investing in improvement
Download the briefings from here
Contact: Barrie Clarke
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