Annex 2
TIMETABLE FOR THE 1999 PERIODIC REVIEW
Phase one: Developing the framework and exposure
of issues
The milestones, key dates and lead parties for
phase one, leading to the publication of Prospects for prices,
are set out in the table below.
| Lead Party | Milestones
| Key dates |
| Ofwat | Consultation on MD124—1999 Periodic Review
| February to May 1997 |
| Ofwat | Consultation on The proposed framework and approach to the 1999 Periodic Review
| June to October 1997 |
| Ofwat | Consultation on The business planning process, customer consultation and information requirements for the 1999 Periodic Review
| July to
mid November 1997 |
| Ofwat | The Director's paper The framework and business planning process for the 1999 Periodic Review
| February 1998 |
| Environment Agency | Consultation on Outlook for the Environment setting down the broad priorities, principles and benefits which should be sought from the environment programmes for water companies after 2000
| January 1998 until
21 February 1998 |
| Ofwat | The Director's open letter to the Secretaries of State exposing the implications for customers of the potential environmental and drinking water improvements and the possible scope for efficiency
| April 1998 |
| Environment Agency | The EA publishes advice to Secretaries of State on broad priorities and benefits of environmental improvements
| May 1998 |
| DETR and Welsh Office | DETR and Welsh Office open to representation from interested parties on priorities for environment improvements
| May to June 1998 |
| Companies and CSCs | Companies and CSCs summarise their customer consultation results and the implications for future service
| Early August 1998 |
| Ofwat | The Director's paper Prospects for prices: strategic options and issues
| October 1998
Consultation closes
early January 1999
|
Phase two: Decisions and determinations
The milestones, key dates and lead parties for phase two
are set out in the table below:
| Lead party | Milestones
| Key dates |
| DETR and Welsh Office | Guidance issued by Secretaries of State on priorities for water quality improvements and the environment, including views on the scope for environmental improvements for each water company
| July 1998 |
| Environment Agency | In the light of guidance from Secretaries of State, interested parties invited to put forward their priorities for environmental improvements to the EA together with an assessment of the associated benefits
| August to
October 1998 |
| Environment agency | EA publishes prioritised programme of environmental improvements for approval by Secretaries of State
| November 1998 |
| Ofwat and companies | A series of formal meetings between the Director and the individual companies
| January and
February 1999 |
| DETR and the Welsh Office | DETR and Welsh Office make decisions on environmental objectives for each water company for the period (2000-05)
| Early March 1999 |
| Companies | Companies submit draft Business Plans to support their proposals for price limits
| By 9 April 1999 |
| Ofwat | The Director's draft determinations of price limits published for consultation
| End July 1999 |
| Companies | Representations on the draft determinations
| September and
October 1999 |
| Ofwat | The Director's final determinations of price limits published
| End November 1999 |
The Prospects for prices paper will need to take account
of the EA's prioritised programme for environmental improvements
to be published a few days later. The Director and the EA will
co-ordinate the preparation of their respective publications at
that stage. These publications will provide the basis for discussions
between the Director and individual companies early in 1999, as
well as enabling other interested parties to express views on
the emerging strategic options and issues.
During January and February 1999, the Director will hold
a formal meeting with each company to discuss the issues raised
in the Prospects for prices paper and how the company intends
to deal with them in its draft Business Plan to be submitted to
the Director in April 1999.
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