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Appointment of Independent Chair for the Review of Water Charging

INFORMATION BULLETIN

Ref: 258/08
Date: 4 August 2008

Anna Walker, Chief Executive of the Healthcare Commission, has today been officially appointed to lead the independent Review of Household Charging and Metering for Water and Sewerage Services.

The Review and its scope was announced earlier this year in Defra’s Water Strategy “Future Water”, and the terms of reference outlined today include:

  • Examine the current system of charging households for water and sewerage services, and assess the effectiveness and fairness of current and alternative methods of charging;
  • Consider social, economic and environmental concerns; and
  • Make recommendations on any actions that should be taken to ensure that England and Wales has a sustainable and fair system of charging in place.  This could include changes to current legislation and guidance.

In reaching its conclusions the Review’s assessment will include:

  • the effectiveness and fairness of charging methods, taking into account current trends in water metering and the use of the rateable value based system;
  • the appropriate pace of change and method of moving towards universal metering to ensure sustainable abstraction in areas of water stress;
  • the cost and benefits of metering, taking into account all costs including the full social cost of carbon;
  • the effectiveness of different types of innovative tariffs in helping vulnerable households and/or reducing demand;
  • the effectiveness of measures to manage affordability concerns for low income households;
  • the impact on health and health inequalities of current and alternative methods of charging; and
  • the effectiveness of measures to incentivise people to pay for their water and sewerage services and minimise the impact of bad debt on customers that do pay, excluding disconnection.

Notes to editors

  1. Future Water – the Government’s Water Strategy for England, was published on 7 February 2008 and can be found at: www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2008/water-0702.htm.
  2. The review is a joint review between Defra and Welsh Assembly Government.  It will report to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Welsh Ministers.
  3. Further information on a timetable for the review, including a call for evidence, will be published in due course.
  4. Anna Walker is currently Chief Executive of the Healthcare Commission.  She has a wealth of experience in regulatory, environmental and social issues including the protection of disadvantaged customers.  She was Deputy Director General at the office of Telecommunications from 1995-1997, Director General Energy at the Department of Trade and Industry from 1998-2001 and Director General Land Use and Rural Affairs at Defra from 2001-2003.  Anna is also a member of the board of the new National Consumer Council.

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Page published: 4 August 2008