Sutton and East Surrey Water, a privately owned water supplier, is on Monday expected to make a last-ditch attempt to persuade regulators to allow it to increase prices by 10 per cent more than inflation to cover higher costs than expected and disappointing revenues.

The move comes as Ofwat, the UK water industry regulator, prepares to reveal a draft framework this month that will outline the maximum amount by which suppliers will be able to raise prices to customers between 2010-15.