CMA proposes delaying decisions until February

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is understood to have proposed delaying its final decisions in the PR19 appeal cases of Northumbrian Water, Yorkshire Water, Anglian Water and Bristol Water until the week of the 8 February 2021. Views are invited from the main parties.

The agreed schedule earmarked decisions in December, allowing the water companies time to apply the final decisions to prices from April 2021. That would be challenging if the February deadline is locked in.

In its response to the Provisional Findings (PFs), Ofwat called on the CMA to extend the process beyond December to allow time to make it procedurally robust after heaving criticising the Authority’s approach and PFs. There will be further hearings, with final post hearing submissions now proposed by 14 December.