Crunch week for UK's Thames Water as regulator rules, court process starts

Thames Water, the British utility that risks running out of cash, faces a crunch week, as the water regulator sets future prices, and a court process begins that should help it to secure a 3 billion pound ($3.80 billion) lifeline. Regulator Ofwat's final decision, due on Thursday, is crucial to all Britain's water companies, but especially to Thames - as it fights to stave off nationalisation. The company, which has 16 million customers, has become a poster child for Britain's broken water sector following accusations investors have for decades plundered companies for dividends while neglecting infrastructure and the environment.

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