Southern Water - The Company that just keeps taking
Ofwat Discredited, Non-Existent Regulation, Zero Official Concern and Action
Source References
The recent (2025) Cunliffe Report by the Water Commission confirmed what most people have known for years, namely that the existing regulator Ofwat (which is supposed to ensure customers are treated fairly) is totally ineffective. The present government has declared that Ofwat will be replaced by a more powerful and effective regulator – but this will not happen until 2028-9 at the earliest owing to the legislative process. Meanwhile, Southern Water can carry on its cavalier rip-off unchecked.
The government's new proposals promise "stronger protections to keep bills predictable, affordable and fair" but, even if well intentioned now, (a) there is no guarantee they will be delivered in full or at all, (b) implementation is years away while long-suffering customers need action now. If not, every customer could have lost hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds before promised protection arrives – if at all.
