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By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business and economics reporter

While consumer groups hit out at energy company profits after the energy price cap rose today, the chief executive of water company Pennon was defending her pay increase to MPs.

Susan Davy, chief executive of South West Water’s parent company, acknowledged the company had “a lot more to do” on customer service and engagement and “isn’t where it needs to be” on environmental performance.

Davy was at the helm of the water utility responsible for an outbreak of cryptosporidium that resulted in an eight-week boil water notice for parts of Devon and left hundreds sick last May.

Despite this, her total pay package rose in 2023/24 to £860,000 from £543,000 the previous financial year.

Addressing the MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee earlier, Davy defended her pay, saying she did not take a bonus.

When asked if she felt she deserved her pay, she said the sum was set by a remuneration committee, rather than by her, and she was “well paid for what is a very responsible and accountable role”. 

“I’ve had a history of not taking annual bonuses,” she said.

There was no means for customer bill rises to be considered in awarding her pay, she said. 

Bills at South West Water are to rise 32% by 2030.

When questioned about rising shareholder payments, called dividends, Davy said they were declared but not paid out after the cryptosporidium outbreak.

Small claims taken by customers have been settled by Pennon, but Davy was unable to say whether claimants were required to sign non-disclosure agreements. 

Signing NDAs was not something Pennon did “as a matter of course”, she told MPs.