Ofwat opts for expediency. It’s time for water companies to stop bleating | Nils Pratley

Water bill increases are at about the level most firms requested - but not so for beleagured Southern and Thames

• Average water bill to rise by 36% over five years
• How much more might you pay in your area?

Water bills in England and Wales were always going to rise massively. The question was the degree. Ofwat has landed on figures that, for about three-quarters of the companies, represent roughly what they wanted in order to fund regular operations and build new projects.

The response in the share prices of the few firms that remain on the stock market always offers the best instant guide to these hellishly complicated five-yearly regulatory determinations. On a bad day in the wider market, Severn Trent and United Utilities were two of best performers in the FTSE 100 index; Pennon, owner of South West Water, was in step in the FTSE 250.