Thames Water has launched an appeal to allow it to increase bills by more than the regulator wants to permit. The UK's largest utility company is calling on the competition regulator to overturn a decision from the water industry regulator, Ofwat, which caps bill rises at 35% over the next five years.

Troubled Thames Water has appealed against an inflation-busting price rise agreed by regulator Ofwat, arguing it was doing so “in the interests of our customers and the environment"

Thames says Ofwat’s ruling “does not support the investment and improvement that is required for Thames Water”

LONDON (Reuters) -British utility Thames Water lodged an appeal to the country's competition regulator on Friday, beginning a process to try to raise the prices it can charge customers for the next five years and improve its chances of survival.

Thames Water is expected to appeal for permission to raise water bills by 53 per cent over the next five years, despite a three-day water outage which left residents across south east London forced to collect bottled water on foot.

Thames Water is seeking further hikes to customer charges despite facing criticism for substantial bill increases and executive bonuses amidst a backdrop of environmental failings. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

Industry regulator Ofwat has capped bill rises for the firm at 35% over the next five years. Thames Water has now urged the competition regulator to overturn the decision from the

Watford's sewerage service provider Thames Water is asking the competition regulator to allow it to charge customers even more.