Committee publication · Correspondence · 26 November 2025
Correspondence to South West Water relating to its approach to customers in arrears, dated 26 November 2025
From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Reforming the water sector
Summary
The EFRA Committee Chair writes to South West Water's CEO requesting detailed information about the company's debt recovery practices, particularly concerning vulnerable customers and low-value debts. The letter follows the committee's recent report highlighting water poverty concerns and seeks specific data on bailiff visits, Suspended Committal Orders, and enforcement against benefit-receiving households since 2010.
Key findings
- The committee's recent report identified rising water poverty, lack of a single social tariff, and low public awareness of support as key concerns in the water sector
- The letter specifically questions the company's use of bailiffs and Suspended Committal Orders against low-income households with debts under £1,000
- Committee seeks assessment of how South West Water identifies vulnerability before commencing enforcement action
- Request for historical data (2010 onwards) on enforcement actions, including numbers of bailiff visits, SCOs sought and granted, and complaints to the Consumer Council for Water
- Inquiry into whether enforcement has been taken against customers receiving means-tested benefits and the costs associated with pursuing SCOs for debts under £1,000
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Alistair Carmichael MP, Susan Davy, Helena Dollimore MP, South West Water, Pennon Group, Ofwat, Consumer Council for Water
Notable line
“I am writing to you about water company practices around debt recovery from vulnerable customers.”
Key Quotes
“… we expressed concerns about rising levels of water poverty due to increased bills, the lack of a single social tariff and low public awareness of the support available to customers in need”
“We are therefore writing to ask about your company's approach to seeking Suspended Committal Orders (SCOs) and sending bailiffs to low-income households with low levels of debt.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗