16 May 2008
British consumers should be able to pick out a water supplier in the same way they do when looking around for energy providers, it had been claimed.
The industry regulator Ofwat stated that bills could be lowered if customers have more of leeway to check their own firms, reports the Telegraph.
Chief Executive at Ofwat Regina Finn claimed that legislation is currently hindering the market, something that means regional monopolies have developed.
She asserted that a gradual progression could insure the new measures are adopted with caution.
Ms Finn told the publication: "Scope for competition in the water and sewerage sectors is severely limited by legislation, is confined to a small number of business customers and has not developed successfully."
Plans by the body are likely to be handed to an independent government-based review, after similar proposals were rejected earlier in the decade.
This week, councillors in Aylesbury said that efforts by Thames Water to build a new reservoir in Buckinghamshire could face problems.
© 2008 Adfero Ltd
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