Morning, Tuesday, 13th October 2026
Online
This conference will consider the future for water markets in England and Wales.
It will be an opportunity to discuss ways forward following the Competition and Markets Authority’s recent final determinations for Ofwat’s PR24 and AMP8 regime, the publication of A New Vision for Water White Paper, and wider developments in policy and legislation, including the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 and forthcoming Clean Water Bill.
Discussion will also look at how reform can improve confidence in the sector, support long-term financial resilience and investment, and ensure delivery of environmental and infrastructure priorities.
Sessions in the agenda examine priorities for regulation and governance - with proposals for a new integrated regulator, alongside the Transition Plan expected later this year - as well as issues around investment and financial resilience, consumer protection and affordability, competition and market development, as well as the role of data and digital infrastructure in supporting sector performance.
Regulatory reform, accountability & transition
The agenda will examine priorities for the new regulatory regime for water, including implications of any expanded remit for the new regulator and what is needed to ensure continuity, predictability and stability during transition. Attendees will also consider how the more supervisory role planned for the new body could affect public confidence, accountability and oversight.
Discussion will also look at proposals for a new Performance Improvement Regime, establishment of a Water Ombudsman, and implications of recent and proposed changes to performance standards, rewards and penalties.
Areas for discussion include:
- performance regime: preventative oversight through broader powers - implications for accountability and outcomes
- consumer redress: complaint handling and dispute resolution - public confidence and transparency
- standards reform: changes to performance standards, rewards and penalties - governance and accountability considerations - investment implications
- Special Measures Act: implementation of recent legislation - trust and transparency in the sector - expectations for company performance
Investment, affordability, long-term planning & network resilience
With Ofwat’s PR24 and AMP8 regime now finalised following the CMA’s redeterminations, the agenda will assess approaches to financial resilience, price-setting and long-term delivery. Discussion will focus on priorities for attracting and deploying investment to support security of supply, network resilience and future infrastructure development.
Attendees will also consider proposals in the White Paper affecting planning horizons, procurement and infrastructure delivery, alongside wider questions around affordability, solvency and investor confidence.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- investment models: attracting and deploying capital - financing conditions and investor certainty - support for infrastructure delivery
- affordability and investment: supporting investment and environmental improvement while maintaining fair bills - implications for long-term sustainability
- long-term planning: proposals for 25-year planning horizons and abolition of Quality and Ambition Assessments - implications for bid quality, delivery and resilience
- SIP Regulations: proposals to amend SIP Regulations and expand competitive tendering - implications for delivery and investor certainty
- asset health: ringfenced capital maintenance - enhanced infrastructure mapping - priorities for network condition and resilience
- financial resilience: governance and solvency arrangements - lessons from recent industry pressures - customer protection considerations
- sector confidence: lessons from recent sector pressures - developments affecting Thames Water, including temporary nationalisation proposals - implications for confidence and resilience
Market development, expansion & modernisation
The conference also includes a focus on market design across wholesale and retail water markets, considering priorities for consumer protection, market entry, competition and service modernisation.
Sessions will assess current and proposed reforms affecting new entrants, charging arrangements, switching processes and market assurance, alongside implications for investment, compliance and resilience.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- market entry: enabling NAV viability - licensing and application processes - reducing disputes while maintaining affordability
- wholesale charging: implications of revised bulk charging arrangements - competition and investment certainty - project delivery considerations
- retail reform: switching procedures and consumer safeguards - administrative requirements - management of market exit risks
- tariff design: deemed tariffs and price cap arrangements - flexibility and competition considerations - wholesale credit risk
- Market assurance: priorities in MOSL's Business Plan 2025-2028 - implementation of the Market Performance Framework - oversight and incentives
- market operations: settlement speed and accuracy - switching facilitation and data exchange - bilateral trading arrangements
Strategic data innovation, AI analytics & smart metering
Further sessions will consider implications of expanded smart meter rollout for tariff design, settlement and charging arrangements, as well as flexibility and demand management across household and business markets, and market modernisation.
Attendees will also assess the increasing role of AI analytics and smart data across the water system, including implications for governance, competition, monitoring and operational performance.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- AI analytics: leak management and system oversight - operational performance monitoring - environmental reporting applications
- smart data: increasing use of data across the water system - monitoring requirements - governance considerations
- consumption data: centralised access to non-household usage information - data protection requirements - competition and innovation impacts
- digital infrastructure: data sharing and interoperability - support for performance improvement - system-wide modernisation initiatives
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from the Department for Business and Trade; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Government Legal Department; Office for Environmental Protection; Ofwat; Welsh Government.
