"UK water company dividends jump to £1.4bn despite criticism over sewage outflows
Payments include internal transfers between complex web of holding companies"
"Britain’s privatised water and sewage companies paid £1.4bn in dividends in 2022, up from £540mn the previous year, despite rising household bills and a wave of public criticism over sewage outflows.
The figures, based on a Financial Times analysis of the 10 largest water and sewage companies’ accounts, are higher than headline dividends in the year to end March 2022. This is because several have layered corporate structures with numerous subsidiaries, only one of which — the operating company — is regulated by Ofwat. Maintaining dividends means less money is available from customer bills for investment in critical infrastructure such as sewage treatment and water mains."
UK government looks at nationalising Thames Water as crisis deepens
Ministers on standby to intervene in the debt-laden business
"The UK government is on standby for the potential collapse of Thames Water and ministers are examining options including the temporary nationalisation of the debt-laden business.Defra, the environment ministry, is holding emergency talks with industry regulator Ofwat to examine contingency plans in case the country’s largest water company is unable to raise private finance in the coming weeks, according to government officials...."
"...After being sold with almost no debt at privatisation three decades ago, UK water companies have taken on borrowings of £60.6bn, diverting income from customer bills to pay interest payments."