Bristol Water said it will challenge an order to reduce its bills

'Discrepancy in calculations'

The council said it would be asking Bristol Water's customers for their views on Ofwats's decision and Bristol Water's proposals, then sharing the findings with the CMA.
Bristol Water said it had planned to spend Ј531m between 2015 and 2020 - allowing for an average reduction of 4.5% (Ј9).
But in its Final Determination Ofwat said the company's expenditure should be set at Ј409m and the average bill should be cut to Ј167 in the first year, followed by four years at Ј152.
Bristol Water said it did not believe the determination is in the long term interests of customers and believed there is clearly a discrepancy in calculations.
Chief executive Luis Garcia said: It [makes it] very difficult for us maintain our levels of service and make sufficient investment to deliver the enhancements needed to improve and protect the water supply.
The Final Determination sets the allowed levels of total expenditure and investment companies can make to improve and protect water supplies.
It also sets price controls which apply to companies' retail and wholesale activities and determines the level of customers' bills over the next five years.
Bristol Water supplies water to 1.2 million people in the greater Bristol area.