We use a wide variety of other information to assess risks to customers – and decide whether we need to take action on your behalf. This is part of our approach for holding water companies to account.
Below we highlight the overall performance of the monopoly water and sewerage and water only companies in England and Wales in 2013-14 – and any action we are taking to protect customers’ interests.
Financial indicators
It is important that companies are financially sustainable so they can continue to deliver services to customers. It is also important that we check they are making the investment in services they promised they would deliver.
We summarise companies’ financial performance in 2013-14 below.
- Companies charges to customers (‘revenue’) totalled £11.5 billion. In real terms – after inflation is removed – revenue was 1.6% higher than in 2012-13.
- Companies invested about £5 billion in 2013-14, which was broadly the same as in 2012-13.
- The financial returns that companies paid to providers of finance (measured as dividends and interest as a proportion of companies’ regulatory capital value) fell from 6.4% to 5.8%. The regulatory capital value is our valuation of the capital base of the companies.
The companies have now invested about £122 billion in services since privatisation.
You can also read your company’s regulatory accounts to find out more about their performance.
Find out more about why water companies need to make profits.
Our glossary of terms can help you understand what some of the financial terms mean.
Action we are taking
No companies have identified any problems in this area.
Data
We have collated below the performance data companies have published.
| Return on regulatory capital value | Credit rating | Gearing | Interest cover | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anglian | 4.7% | Baa1 | 79.6% | 1.6 |
| Dŵr Cymru | 5.0% | A3/A/A | 63.1% | 2.1 |
| Northumbrian | 5.3% | BBB+/Baa1 | 61.1% | 1.9 |
| Northumbrian (Essex and Suffolk) | ||||
| Severn Trent | 6.4% | BBB+ | 58.6% | 3.6 |
| South West | 5.4% | 56.0% | 2.4 | |
| Southern | 5.2% | Baa2 | 78.0% | 1.6 |
| Thames | 4.9% | Baa1 | 77.6% | 1.8 |
| United Utilities | 4.7% | BBB+ | 61.4% | 3.0 |
| Wessex | 5.9% | A3/A-/BBB+ | 64.0% | 3.6 |
| Yorkshire | 4.3% | Baa3 | 79.2% | 1.4 |
| Affinity Water | 5.8% | A-/A3 | 79.0% | 1.4 |
| – Central area | ||||
| – East area | ||||
| – Southeast area | ||||
| Bristol | 3.9% | Baa1 | 67.9% | 2.7 |
| Dee Valley | 7.3% | 77.2% | 3.8 | |
| Portsmouth | 4.4% | 81.4% | 1.6 | |
| Sembcorp Bournemouth | 7.4% | 59.7% | 4.0 | |
| South East | 6.4% | BBB/Baa2 | 81.0% | 3.7 |
| South Staffs (Cambridge) | 7.3% | BBB+/Baa2 | 64.4% | 3.3 |
| South Staffs | 5.8% | BBB+/Baa2 | 64.4% | 3.3 |
| Sutton & East Surrey | 5.8% | BBB | 77.0% | 1.2 |