Ofwat plans to fine South East Water £22 million for repeated water supply failures in Kent and Sussex between 2020 and 2023, affecting more than 286,000 customers, with a public consultation on the proposed fine open until mid-April.

The regulator has already issued a £22.5 million penalty for the same period and impact, underscoring ongoing scrutiny of the company’s resilience and reliability.

The report notes where to find additional updates from Hits Radio, though that detail does not alter the regulatory narrative.

Ofwat continues to investigate outages over the last four months, signaling ongoing regulatory scrutiny of South East Water’s resilience.

Context highlights the geographic scope—Kent and Sussex—and emphasizes the customer impact of the outages.

South East Water has acknowledged ongoing legal action related to Ofwat’s draft decision and will respond through proper channels ahead of the final ruling.

The company is contesting Ofwat’s decision with a judicial challenge; a private injunction hearing related to publication of final plans did not grant temporary relief.

This is presented as breaking news with ongoing updates to follow.

Interim chief executive Chris Walters says the company failed to provide reliable water supply and adequate customer support, stressing the need to improve resilience.

Ofwat identifies root-cause gaps: lack of ownership, inadequate infrastructure maintenance, and insufficient planning to manage high-demand periods.

The fines reflect Ofwat’s emphasis on accountability and reliability for residents in Kent and Sussex, with a broader investigation into recent interruptions.

Investigations show failures left customers without tap water, made showers difficult, and caused toilets not to flush during disruptions.