Water code modification appeal 2025 (Castle Water)

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has received an application for permission to appeal by Castle Water Limited against Ofwat鈥檚 decision to reject Castle Water鈥檚 request for a change to the Wholesale Retail Code, which was published on 5 February 2025.

Administrative timetable

Date Action
2 May 2025 Statutory deadline for CMA decision
26 March 2025 Deadline for applications to intervene
19 March 2025 Deadline for Ofwat to reply to the appeal
12 March 2025 Permission to appeal granted by the CMA
3 March 2025 Ofwat acknowledged receipt of the notice of appeal and provided submissions on whether the CMA should refuse permission to appeal
26 February 2025 Permission to appeal sought by Castle Water

Response to the Notice of Appeal

24 March 2025: On 19 March 2025 the CMA received a response from Ofwat to Castle Water鈥檚 Notice of Appeal.

  • (24.3.25)

Permission to appeal granted

12 March 2025: The CMA has granted Castle Water permission to appeal.

  • (13.3.25)

Appeal group appointed

13 March 2025: The CMA has appointed a group of panel members to determine the appeal.

Notice of appeal

26 February 2025: Castle Water Limited (Castle Water) applied for permission to appeal Ofwat鈥檚 decision of 5 February 2025 to reject Castle Water鈥檚 request for a change to the Wholesale Retail Code. Castle Water proposed to amend section 9.11 of the Wholesale Retail Code to relieve retailers of the obligation to provide credit support to a wholesaler where, and for so long as, that wholesaler does not have a stable credit rating of BBB/Baa2 or higher.

The administrative timetable for the CMA鈥檚 decision whether to grant permission to appeal can be found above. If permission to appeal is granted, the CMA has 30 working days following the date it receives the Ofwat鈥檚 reply, to determine the appeal. This deadline can be further extended by 10 working days where there are good reasons for doing so.

This appeal process relates to arrangements between water wholesalers and retailers who in turn supply the business retail market. It is not part of the PR24 process relating to the CMA鈥檚 redetermination of Ofwat鈥檚 price control decision.

  • (4.3.25)

Contact

[email protected]

Updates to this page

Published 4 March 2025
Last updated 24 March 2025 show all updates
  1. Ofwat鈥檚 response to the Notice of Appeal published.

  2. Decision on permission to appeal published.

  3. First published.