Synopsis
The Office of Water Services (Ofwat), the regulatory body for the water industry, sets price limits on water companies every five years at the conclusion of a process known as the Periodic Review. The 2004 Review started in October 2002, and Ofwat will be announcing price limits in November 2004, which will come into effect in April 2005. This document sets out the Government's response to the Committee's report (HCP 416 session 2003-04; ISBN 0215016882), published in May 2004, which examined the Review process and its contribution to environmental protection and sustainable development.