THE regional water champion representing Severn Trent customers has expressed its concern that the Serious Fraud Office is investigating the company, and has been pressing Ofwat and Severn Trent to ensure that customers do not suffer as a result of the allegations.

The matter reported to the SFO concerns data on leakage that emerged in Ofwat's investigation. It is essential that all information which companies submit to Ofwat is reliable because levels of service, funding and the bills can be shaped by the data.

Sir James Perowne, chairman of the Consumer Council for Water Midlands, said: "Severn Trent has assured CCWater and Ofwat that consumers would be compensated if they have been overcharged as a result of the alleged mis-reporting."

These are very serious allegations and the SFO must complete its investigation before we know the scale of the impact on consumers.

"Severn Trent has assured both CCWater and Ofwat that consumers would be compensated if it were found that customers have been overcharged as a result of the alleged mis-reporting."