Water Industry: changing the Specified Infrastructure Projects Regulations

We want to know what you think about proposed changes to the Specified Infrastructure Project Regulations (also known as the SIP Regulations).

The changes will affect Infrastructure Providers. These are independent companies licensed by the water regulator (Ofwat) to finance and deliver large or complex projects, like the Thames Tideway Tunnel.

The proposed amendments would allow Ofwat to include conditions in an Infrastructure Provider’s licence. This would then give Infrastructure Providers the right to ask Ofwat to refer its price control decisions to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Water and sewerage companies already have this right.

Without these changes, the only way an Infrastructure Provider could challenge Ofwat price control decisions is by seeking judicial review before the High Court. This is a time consuming and expensive process, the costs of which are ultimately met by customers.

Views on amending the SIP regulations are particularly sought from the CMA, Ofwat, the Consumer Council for Water, English water and sewerage companies, and other interested parties.