Memorandum by United Utilities (UU) (CT
31)
UNITED UTILITIES
United Utilities (UU) operates the water and
wastewater systems, and the electricity distribution network for
the North West of England. UU also successfully manages support
services for a range of organisations in the UK and overseas including
a growing number of local authorities. UU also manages and maintains
nearly eight million water, gas and electricity meters in the
UK.
INTRODUCTION
Predictions of global warming and the potential
effects on sea levels with the subsequent effect on our coastal
utility infrastructure is a cause of concern and UU comments may
have most relevance to issues 5 and 6 for the Committee's consideration.
PLANNING CONSULTATION
UU's investment programme is agreed with our
regulators OFWAT and OFGEM in five-year cycles and the current
programme is for the years 2005 to 2010. The charges that we can
pass on to our customers in that period is controlled by our regulators
and the emergence of investment needs for which no funding provision
has been made can lead to delays in improvement works.
It is very important that local authorities
and developers consult with utility infrastructure suppliers on
a regular basis in order that infrastructure service provision
can be coordinated and link to the aspirations of our customers.
If we are not given advanced notice of the aspirations
of our customers for major works/development we may not be able
to fund the necessary infrastructure provision in the same time
frame as our customers expectations.
The major re-generation and flood defence works
at Blackpool is a prime example where there is the potential for
problems in terms of treatment of sewage, discharges to bathing
beaches and foul flooding of properties.
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