Business
South East Water to pay £30.5m over supply failures and licence breach
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South East Water to pay £30.5m over supply failures and licence breach
UK water regulator Ofwat has ordered South East Water to pay £30.5m in penalties and compensation following multiple supply interruptions and a licence breach.
- Ofwat concluded an investigation into supply failures between 2020 and 2023 that left more than 286,000 people without water, resulting in a £22m fine.
- A second investigation began in early 2026 after supply interruptions in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, and Sussex between November 2025 and January 2026 affected up to 70,000 homes.
- A third investigation found South East Water breached its licence condition after Moody’s downgraded its credit rating in May 2026.
- Ofwat will appoint an independent monitor to review South East Water’s performance improvement plan and turnaround efforts.
TopicsRegulatory FinesCredit rating downgradeWater SupplyLicence BreachSupply InterruptionsCustomer CompensationOfwatWater IndustrySouth East WaterIndependent Monitor
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