Regulation of water, energy and broadband

The Public Accounts Committee’s 2025 report on water sector regulation found that a failing sector had been left to flounder, with piecemeal regulators missing in action, further scrutinising the work of Ofwat in January 2026. Its inquiry into improving broadband in 2021 found that digital inequality was compounding the economic inequality harshly exposed by the … Show more

The Public Accounts Committee’s 2025 report on water sector regulation found that a failing sector had been left to flounder, with piecemeal regulators missing in action, further scrutinising the work of Ofwat in January 2026. Its inquiry into improving broadband in 2021 found that digital inequality was compounding the economic inequality harshly exposed by the COVID pandemic. Its 2022 report into the regulation of energy suppliers found that Ofgem’s failures had come at a considerable cost to energy billpayers. The National Audit Office (NAO) will publish the findings of its report into Regulating water, energy and broadband to protect consumers in summer 2026. The NAO is likely consider if regulators are meetings customer experience expectations and how they are protecting customers at higher risk of experiencing harm or detriment. Following the publication, the PAC will hear from senior officials at the key regulatory bodies Ofcom, Ofwat and Ofgem on the findings of the report, as well as consumer rights groups. If you have evidence on these issues, please submit here by 23.59 on Friday 1 May 2026 . Please look at the requirements for written evidence submissions and note that the Committee cannot accept material as evidence that is published elsewhere. Please note that the Committee’s inquiry cannot assist with individual cases. If you need help with an individual problem you are having, you may wish to read the information on Parliament’s website about who you can contact with different issues . Show less