Ofwat orders Thames, Southern Water to pay back £80m to customers
Water regulator Ofwat said on Tuesday that it has ordered Thames Water and Southern Water to repay nearly £80m to customers after missing key performance targets.
Thames Water has been ordered to pay back more than £50m, while Southern Water will have to return nearly £30m because of missed targets on water treatment works compliance, pollution incidents and internal sewer flooding across 2021 and 2022.
Chief executive David Black said: "Too many water companies are failing to deliver for their customers. The poorest performers, Thames Water and Southern Water, are consistently falling beneath our expectations and those of their customers.
"They need to take immediate action to improve their performance and rebuild trust with the people they serve. We will continue to hold companies to account for their performance and we will make sure that they raise their game."