01
Executive overview
Key findings
c.£11.5 billion: capital investment guidance for 2025–2030, with about £2 billion expected in 2026/27 (company guidance, reaffirmed 25 September 2026)
£2,616.3 million: group revenue in FY2025/26, up from £2,145.2 million in FY2024/25
£16,527 million: regulatory capital value at 31 March 2026; net debt £9,943 million; gearing 60%
Around 1,700: suppliers the company does business with each year
02
Buyer relevance
Who the report is for
Engineering design and programme management firms
Prepare for the Windermere design and integration partner role, estimated at £600 million excluding VAT over 13 years from 1 April 2027.
Civil, tunnelling and process contractors
Identify which of the seven construction delivery partners and 18 design and build partners to approach for subcontract work.
Metering, leakage and network technology vendors
Work through Arqiva's 1 million meter contract and the leakage pressure shown by a missed three-year rolling target.
Business development and bid teams
Use the Opportunity Register and Watch List to time bids around the December 2026 Ofwat decision and the 12 November 2026 interim results.
03
Decision scope
Questions answered
How much is United Utilities spending?
It guides to c.£11.5 billion of capital investment in 2025–2030, with about £2 billion expected in 2026/27.
How do I bid?
Register on the Central Digital Platform, follow its published list of upcoming regulated procurements and watch EU-Supply CTM; regulated procurements run under the Procurement Act 2023.
Who already holds the major work?
Cascade Infrastructure holds the c.£3 billion Haweswater aqueduct programme, Arqiva the £630 million smart metering contract, and seven partners about £3 billion of construction projects.
What is the largest new opening?
The Windermere design and integration partner, estimated at £600 million excluding VAT, for a scheme the company costs at up to £3.7 billion.
04
Inside the report
Inside the complete report
1. The Account at a Glance
2. Organisation and Decision-Making
3. Financial Position
4. Priorities and Pressures
5. How United Utilities Buys
6. Opportunity Register
7. Commercial Priorities: Where to Focus First
8. Watch List: What to Monitor and What to Do
Source Register
05
Public preview
What to watch next
Windermere formal tender notice
Largest new appointment in view; expected early November 2026.
Ofwat cost change final decision (December 2026)
Sets how much of the c.£1 billion request is funded.
Interim results (12 November 2026)
Any change to the c.£11.5 billion and £2 billion guidance.
Haweswater tunnelling start
Moves the programme from enabling works to main construction.
The Opportunity Register: projects by status, stage, existing contractors, supplier categories and route in.
06
Included
What you receive
The complete PDF report: 12 pages, 9 sections, 6 tables and a register of 30 sources.
This edition
November 2026, First edition.
07
Evidence & method
Evidence and method
The brief draws on United Utilities' FY2025/26 results and annual performance report, its supplier pages and contract award notices, trade press on framework and contract awards, and company, Ofwat, Environment Agency and court sources on projects and regulation checked on 4 November 2026.
Sources
30 sources, listed in the report's source register. Evidence current to 4 November 2026. Principal data periods: FY2025/26 results and annual performance report (year ended 31 March 2026); the 2025–2030 price control period; 2026/27 charges. Project, procurement and regulatory status checked against public sources on 4 November 2026. All currency is pounds sterling (£)..
08
Lead analyst
Robert C. Brears
Founder, Our Future Water Intelligence
Robert C. Brears is a water-security specialist and author whose work examines utility governance, infrastructure investment, climate resilience and long-term water-system change for executive and policy audiences.
- Decision-focused utility intelligence
- Published water-policy author
- Evidence-grounded system analysis
09
Buyer FAQs
Before you purchase
Who can use the report?
Licensed for internal use within one purchasing organization. The PDF and its contents may be shared with colleagues within that organization. External redistribution, resale and public publication are prohibited without permission.
How is the report delivered?
The PDF is available to download immediately after confirmed payment, through our secure delivery system.
Can my organization buy wider access?
Institutional purchasing: For invoice enquiries, multi-organization licensing or broader access requirements, contact Our Future Water Intelligence.
10
United Utilities: Utility Account Brief
- Format
- Length
- 12 pages
- Edition
- November 2026, First edition
- Price
- USD 499
11
Report details
Publication details
- Publisher
- Our Future Water Intelligence
- Report family
- Utility Account Brief
- Edition
- November 2026, First edition
- Format
- Length
- 12 pages
- Reference
- OFW_EXT_UNITED_UTILITIES_UTILITY_ACCOUNT_BRIEF_4e3024af9e91
- Evidence current to
- 4 November 2026
14
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