Committee publication · Correspondence · 26 November 2025
Correspondence to Dŵr Cymru (Welsh 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 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee writes to Welsh Water's CEO requesting detailed information about the company's debt collection practices targeting vulnerable customers, including policies on bailiff enforcement, Suspended Committal Orders, and Orders to Obtain Information. The letter follows the committee's June 2025 report on water sector reform and seeks eight years of data on enforcement actions, particularly those involving debts under £1,000 and benefit-recipient households.
Key findings
- Committee expressed prior concerns about rising water poverty, increased bills, lack of single social tariff, and low awareness of support for customers in need
- Letter seeks full disclosure of policies and internal guidance on enforcement measures, bailiff use, Orders to Obtain Information, and Suspended Committal Orders
- Requests data since 2010 on bailiff enforcement cases, numbers concerning debts under £1,000, and how many debtors were benefit recipients
- Asks for information on Suspended Committal Orders sought, granted, and their associated costs for debts below £1,000
- Seeks complaint data to the Consumer Council for Water regarding enforcement actions and failure to follow Ofwat's Paying Fair guidelines
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Alistair Carmichael MP, Helena Dollimore MP, Peter Perry, Dŵr Cymru (Welsh Water), Consumer Council for Water, Ofwat
Notable line
“I am writing to you about water company practices around debt recovery from vulnerable customers.”
Key Quotes
“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.”
“I would be grateful if you could set out in full any policies or internal guidance currently in force in relation to enforcement measures, including the use of bailiffs, Orders to Obtain Information and SCOs for water and sewerage debts.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗