The words below are all from We Own It, but this first paragraph is from me. I have supported ‘We Own It’ for several years and this is my small contribution to reverse what Thatcher did to us forty years ago.
Please read this and then email Ofwat simply by clicking this link to We Own It.
Thames Water have repeatedly broken their license to run a water company in England and the regulator has just fined them £250 million. 
Here’s the problem
Instead of paying up, Thames is asking Ofwat to let them off the hook, on the promise that they will get their house in order!
Ofwat is asking for the public’s views on whether they should accept Thames Water’ promise.
They should absolutely not.
You had until 5pm on Friday 16th August – to stop Thames Water being let off the hook.
Wherever you live in the UK, this matters to you because if privatised services are let off when they break the rules, it sends a bad message that affects everyone, everywhere. Ask Ofwat to take Thames’ licence into public hands.
If credit agencies say a firm’s debts are “junk” Ofwat can fine them 10% of their revenue. This has just happened to Thames Water.
It’s a joke
Ofwat plans to let Thames off after it suggested a recovery plan.
Their big ideas? New executives. Asking shareholders for money. A new business plan. An independent monitor to report back to Ofwat.
Thames wants to dodge further fines for sewage and illegal dividends too. If they are allowed to, what’s to stop privatised health companies seeking the same?
You’ve helped stop the sell off of Channel 4 and the closure of a thousand railway ticket offices in England by responding to public consultations.
You can have a big impact in bringing Thames Water into public ownership by taking just 2 minutes to send our template consultation response.
Everyone in the UK can help end this circus
Email Ofwat and demand they not only charge the usual fines but take back Thames’ licence once and for all.
“Unless shareholders believe that there is a genuine risk of losing their licence, they have no incentive to good corporate or environmental performance.”
Those words aren’t from We Own It. They’re from the now Water Minister, Emma Hardy, in February — when she was still in opposition.
Ofwat can advise ministers to use special administration powers to move a water company’s licence to a new owner, including into public ownership.
According to the Treasury, this method could mean nationalisation costs nothing — after all Thames’ owners already believe their shares are worthless.
The first step is to take away Thames Water’s license and you can demand Ofwat do this – respond to their public consultation now.
8000 of you emailed the Transport Secretary demanding that First Group lose its TransPennine Express (TPE) railway contract. And you won.
In May last year, TPE came into public hands. The damage of privatisation is slowly being undone, with an increased timetable planned for December.
You can pull it off again. Please, wherever you are, demand Ofwat fine Thames and take back their licence by sending our email HERE.
In solidarity,
Cat, Johnbosco, Matthew, and John — the We Own It team
P.S. Water companies in Scotland and Northern Ireland are in public hands already, but private energy providers, royal mail, private bus companies and others will feel they can get away with falling users too if Thames can dodge these fines. Please support this action to take back Thames Water.
