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| Thames Water fined £122.7m in biggest ever penalty | Thames Water fined £122.7m in biggest ever penalty |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Thames Water has been fined £122.7m for breaching of rules relating to its sewage operations and shareholder payouts. | Thames Water has been fined £122.7m for breaching of rules relating to its sewage operations and shareholder payouts. |
| It is the biggest ever penalty issued by the water regulator Ofwat. | It is the biggest ever penalty issued by the water regulator Ofwat. |
| The regulator said the fines followed its "biggest and most complex investigation" and confirmed it would be paid by the company and its investors, not by customers. | The regulator said the fines followed its "biggest and most complex investigation" and confirmed it would be paid by the company and its investors, not by customers. |
| A Thames Water spokesperson said: "We take our responsibility towards the environment very seriously." | A Thames Water spokesperson said: "We take our responsibility towards the environment very seriously." |
| The fine issued by the water industry watchdog has ordered Thames Water to pay a £104.5m penalty for breaches of rules connected to its sewage operations. | The fine issued by the water industry watchdog has ordered Thames Water to pay a £104.5m penalty for breaches of rules connected to its sewage operations. |
| That is on top of an additional penalty of £18.2m for breaches relating to shareholder payouts - known as dividends. It is the first time Ofwat has fined a water company over "undeserved dividends". | That is on top of an additional penalty of £18.2m for breaches relating to shareholder payouts - known as dividends. It is the first time Ofwat has fined a water company over "undeserved dividends". |
| Thames Water is currently in "cash lock up" and no further dividend payments can be paid without approval from Ofwat. | Thames Water is currently in "cash lock up" and no further dividend payments can be paid without approval from Ofwat. |
| It comes as Thames continues to face heavy criticism over its performance in recent years following a series of sewage discharges and leaks. | It comes as Thames continues to face heavy criticism over its performance in recent years following a series of sewage discharges and leaks. |
| The company is also struggling under a huge £20bn debt pile, but secured an emergency £3bn in March to stave off collapse. | The company is also struggling under a huge £20bn debt pile, but secured an emergency £3bn in March to stave off collapse. |
| The supplier serves about a quarter of the UK's population, mostly across London and parts of southern England, and employs 8,000 people. | The supplier serves about a quarter of the UK's population, mostly across London and parts of southern England, and employs 8,000 people. |
| It had expected to run out of cash completely by mid-April before it secured a rescue loan and the government has been on standby to put Thames into special administration. | It had expected to run out of cash completely by mid-April before it secured a rescue loan and the government has been on standby to put Thames into special administration. |
| David Black, the chief executive of Ofwat, said the fines were a result of a "clear-cut case where Thames Water has let down its customers and failed to protect the environment". | David Black, the chief executive of Ofwat, said the fines were a result of a "clear-cut case where Thames Water has let down its customers and failed to protect the environment". |
| "Our investigation has uncovered a series of failures by the company to build, maintain and operate adequate infrastructure to meet its obligations," he added. | "Our investigation has uncovered a series of failures by the company to build, maintain and operate adequate infrastructure to meet its obligations," he added. |
| "The company also failed to come up with an acceptable redress package that would have benefited the environment, so we have imposed a significant financial penalty." | "The company also failed to come up with an acceptable redress package that would have benefited the environment, so we have imposed a significant financial penalty." |
| Releasing raw sewage has the potential to significantly damage the environment and poses a risk to human health for those swimming in a river or sea where sewage is being discharged. | |
| Ofwat proposed the £104m fine in August last year, but confirmed the penalty, and the additional £18.2m fine on Wednesday. | |
| Earlier this month, Thames Water's boss Chris Weston told MPs the company's survival depended on Ofwat being lenient over fines and penalties. | |
| A spokesperson for Thames Water said: "We take our responsibility towards the environment very seriously and note that Ofwat acknowledges we have already made progress to address issues raised in the investigation relating to storm overflows." | A spokesperson for Thames Water said: "We take our responsibility towards the environment very seriously and note that Ofwat acknowledges we have already made progress to address issues raised in the investigation relating to storm overflows." |
| "The dividends were declared following a consideration of the company's legal and regulatory obligations." | "The dividends were declared following a consideration of the company's legal and regulatory obligations." |
| "Our lenders continue to support our liquidity position and our equity raise process continues." | "Our lenders continue to support our liquidity position and our equity raise process continues." |