Three gas companies penalised £8m for failing to attend emergencies on time

THREE gas companies have been penalised £8million for failing to attend emergencies on time, potentially leaving customers at risk.

Southern Gas Networks will pay £5.8million, Cadent £1.5million and Scotland Gas Networks £700,000.

Companies maintain the gas network and must attend reports of any suspected leaks within one or two hours, depending on the circumstances.

They must arrive in one hour for uncontrolled gas escapes and two hours for controlled leaks in at least 97 per cent of cases.

Southern Gas Networks was handed the largest penalty after it missed the 97 per cent target by 5.1 per cent.

Cadent was 1.8 per cent adrift, with Scotland Gas Networks 0.4 per cent.

Energy watchdog Ofgem looked at their failure to hit targets between 2022 and 2023.

The investigation covered Cadent’s North London and North West regions, and the other distributors’ Scottish and Southern areas.

Cathryn Scott, Ofgem’s director of market oversight and enforcement, said: “The potential risk to households and businesses if gas leaks aren’t investigated quickly is significant.”

She said Ofgem won’t hesitate to take action when companies fail to meet their obligations.

The companies voluntarily agreed to pay the penalties.

The cash will go into Ofgem’s redress fund, which provides money for projects supporting vulnerable energy consumers.

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