08/04/2008

Ofwat Proposes Huge Fine For Severn Trent

Birmingham water company, Severn Trent Water could be presented with a £35.8 million fine for misleading customers and offering poor service.

Water industry regulator Ofwat is planning to fine the firm £34.7 million for fraud and £1.1 million for "substandard" service.

The fine, which equates to almost 3% of the company's turnover is the largest served by watchdog.

Severn Trent has admitted negating to report the actual water leakages in 2001 and 2002, after a Serious Fraud Office investigation.

Ofwat chief executive Regina Finn said: "The size of the fine reflects how seriously Ofwat takes the deliberate misreporting of information.

"This sends a clear message to the company and the rest of the water sector, Ofwat will protect consumers and companies must comply with their legal obligations or pay the price."

Tony Wray, chief executive of Severn Trent PLC said that his team had uncovered misreporting and poor service in their customer relations department.

He said: "We took steps to implement proper controls and an ethical working culture with the highest standards to ensure there can be no repetition of this unacceptable behaviour.

"We fully acknowledge and accept the company is responsible for all its failures."

Severn has said that it will lower bills by £2.40 per household so that it does not profit from the deception.

The company serves more than eight million customers across the Midlands.

(DS/JM)


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