This is our letter to David Black CEO at Ofwat, sent after watching the CEO of Southern Water ‘slip up’ at the EFRA committee. By certifying they had enough money (alongside all other water companies) they were allowed to make profit and take dividends…. Now it appears they didn’t in which case we want our money back. No dividends should have been taken until the company was meeting its statutory obligations.

You can see the CEO saying this here at at 11.06.13

Dear David
The Southern Water CEO today said at the EFRA committee that there had never been enough money to maintain our sewage system (circa 11.06 on the recording). Given their board  certified repeatedly that the company had enough financial resources to meet its statutory requirements and deliver its regulated activity, will Ofwat now be pursuing this? Either they had enough money (which they certified and enabled them to take dividends) or they didn’t (as the CEO is now claiming) and their Board mislead Ofwat.

How will Ofwat pursue this?

Prof Becky Malby
Ilkley Clean River Campaign
Tel: 07974777309
Bluesky: @cleanilkley.bsky.social