23/08/2025

Abolition of OFWAT and social water tarrifs

On the 21 July, the Government announced that Ofwat is to be abolished and replaced with “a new, single, powerful regulator” to protect families from massive water bill hikes, and to cut water pollution in our rivers, lakes and seas.


The Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, said that the new regulator replacing Ofwat would draw in water-related functions from across the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Drinking Water Inspectorate, and that it would “clean up the country’s rivers and protect the public from soaring water bills”.

CSPA is to co-sign an open letter to Steve Reed OBE MP, from Independent Age, calling upon him to urgently consult on the introduction of a national social tariff for water bills. The letter will say that households are expected to spend, on average, £603 on their water and sewerage bills in
2025/26, which is 26% higher than the year before.