Britain’s water regulator ordered water companies to return a total of 157.6 million pounds ($206 million) to customers for missing environmental targets, the latest penalty slapped on an industry at the centre of a scandal over dirty rivers.
Regulator Ofwat said customer bills in 2025-26 would be reduced to reflect the missed targets, with the country’s biggest supplier Thames Water set to lose 57 million pounds, and United Utilities 33 million pounds.
Sewage released in rivers and seas has sparked anger in Britain against privatised water companies, which are accused of routinely dumping waste in waterways and failing to invest in infrastructure.
The water companies say that wet weather over the last year resulted in a higher level of sewage releases and they have asked the regulator to allow bills to rise to allow them to invest more to improve their performance.
Ofwat Chief Executive David Black said companies needed to change their culture and stop blaming the weather.
“Companies must implement actions now to improve performance, be more dynamic, agile and on the front foot of issues,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.
($1 = 0.7641 pounds)
(Reporting by Sarah Young）
