Watchdog commends South Staffs Water Company

Watchdog commends South Staffordshire Water as customers benefit from high levels of service and efficiency at time of rising water bills.
South Staffordshire Water (SSW) has been praised by the Customer Consultative Committee who monitors it’s performance after the publication of a report from the water regulator, Ofwat.

The Ofwat report confirms that high standards of service and value for money continue to be provided by the water company despite the significant reductions in costs and staff numbers that have occurred in recent years.



The report commended South Staffordshire Water for it’s high levels of efficiency and standards of service. This combination of performance demonstrates that SSW is a leading edge company demonstrably committed to providing its customers with the best value service in the industry. Furthermore Ofwat are now using the Company's performance, along with 3 other smaller companies to set the benchmark for the whole industry.

The Regulator used South Staffordshire Water, once again, as an example to dispel those who are suggesting that if cost reductions are made at water companies then it is certain that standards will slip.
The Regulator’s report quotes: “There is evidence that good standards of customer service do not necessarily require higher costs. For example, South Staffordshire has the third highest overall score in the water supply and customer service overall performance assessment for water and sewerage companies in 2004-5 and is banded A for both water operating and capital maintenance relative efficiency”.



Chairman of the Customer Committee, Councillor Phil Bateman, commented “It is quite right for praise to be given to the water company. Their staff have worked hard to improve their operations so that costs are kept to a minimum but service standards are never compromised.”



He added, “As ever we and the Company will continue to look for further improvements. Customers have recently received water bills that are around 9% higher than last year following the Regulator’s price review. We urge customers with payment difficulties to contact the water company immediately to discuss ways to avoid getting into debt. Whilst water bills are rising for customers of South Staffordshire Water, they have remained more than 20% lower than the national average.”



Note to editors:



1. South Staffordshire Water serves large parts of the Black Country, including Walsall, Sandwell and Dudley, together with areas such as Tamworth, Burton, Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield and Cannock. In total, the Company serves a population of 1.2 million. The Company supplies 330 million litres of water every day across a network of pipes that total 6,000 km in length.



2. The Ofwat report: Water and sewerage service unit costs and relative efficiency 2004-05 is available from the Ofwat website: www.ofwat.gov.uk