UK regulator's price hike decision to fall short of Thames Water demand, Guardian says
Adds Ofwat initial ruling from July in paragraph 3
LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) -Britain's Thames Water will be allowed by water regulator Ofwat toincrease customer bills by around 33% over the next five years, the Guardian reported on Wednesday, a far smaller increase than the troubled company had said was needed.
The Guardian report, which cited unnamed sources, came ahead of a formal announcement from Ofwat on Thursday.
Thames Water had previously requested a 53% rise in bills. Ofwat said in an initial rulingin July that it would allow water companies to increase average bills by 21%.
The company, which has 16 million customers, has become a poster child for Britain's broken water sector following accusations investors have for decades plundered companies for dividends while neglecting infrastructure and the environment.
Ofwat's decision is seen as key to determining whether Thames Water can attract new equity of 3.25 billion pounds ($4.10 billion), part of a rescue plan that also depends on a court approving a separate 3 billion pound debt lifeline. ($1 = 0.7936 pound)
Reporting by William James; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Mark Porter
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