Latest news with #Cadent
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Three gas companies penalised £8m for failing to attend emergencies on time
Companies maintain the gas network and must attend reports of any suspected leaks within one or two hours GAS BLAST Three gas companies penalised £8m for failing to attend emergencies on time Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 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. 1 Three gas companies have been penalised £8million for failing to attend emergencies on time, potentially leaving customers at risk Credit: Getty Residents evacuated after gas leak in Scots town sparks chaos HOME PLUNGE HOUSE sales plunged last month as changes to stamp duty hit first-time buyers, figures show. There were 64,680 sales in April — a third of the number in March. The figure was also well down on April last year, according to HMRC. From April 1, first-time buyers have paid stamp duty on homes above £300,000, down from £425,000. PETROL'S FALL AVERAGE petrol pump prices have fallen to their lowest level for almost four years, but experts predict they will not go lower. They reached 132.3p a litre on Thursday, down from about 135.5p in early April, according to the AA. But it said the impact of low oil prices remains 'disappointing and frustrating' for motorists. GOOD WEEK: DEBBIE Crosbie, boss at Nationwide, after the building society reported a 30 per cent leap in profits to £2.3billion. BAD WEEK: CHRIS Weston, boss at Thames Water, which was fined £122.7million for sewage spills and dividend breaches.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
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. 1 HOME PLUNGE HOUSE sales plunged last month as changes to stamp duty hit first-time buyers, figures show. There were 64,680 sales in April — a third of the number in March. The figure was also well down on April last year, according to HMRC. From April 1, first-time buyers have paid stamp duty on homes above £300,000, down from £425,000. PETROL'S FALL AVERAGE petrol pump prices have fallen to their lowest level for almost four years, but experts predict they will not go lower. They reached 132.3p a litre on Thursday, down from about 135.5p in early April, according to the AA. But it said the impact of low oil prices remains 'disappointing and frustrating' for motorists. GOOD WEEK: DEBBIE Crosbie, boss at Nationwide, after the building society reported a 30 per cent leap in profits to £2.3billion.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Three energy firms fined £8m by Ofgem for attending gas leaks late
Three gas distribution companies are paying a combined £8 million in penalties after failing to attend to some gas emergencies on time. Cadent Gas, Scotland Gas Networks and Southern Gas Networks all voluntarily agreed to pay the funds after missing their targets between 2022 and 2023, Ofgem said. The regulator said it opened an investigation into the three companies after they self-reported missing their targets. Ofgem 's rules require companies which manage the gas network to attend to reports of suspected gas leaks within one or two hours, depending on the incident, in 97 per cent of cases. Southern Gas Networks will pay £5.8 million to Ofgem's Energy Redress Fund, Cadent will pay £1.5 million, and Scotland Gas Networks will pay £700,000. The cash will go into Ofgem's voluntary redress fund, which provides money for projects that support vulnerable energy consumers. Cathryn Scott, director of market oversight and enforcement at Ofgem, said the 'potential risk to households and businesses if gas leaks aren't investigated quickly is significant, so it's right that the companies involved have acknowledged the seriousness of missing these targets'. 'We're confident the companies have improved their systems and processes to make sure this doesn't happen again and have demonstrated their commitment to this by meeting their targets in the two years since the breach. 'We take compliance with our rules incredibly seriously, and as demonstrated with this case, will not hesitate to take action when companies fail to meet their obligations across the board.'
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Three DWP benefits worth £1,708 a month many households don't know they can get
Three DWP benefits which could boost incomes by up to £1,708 a month, but many people don't know they could claim, have been named. Gas company Cadent said people attending its support programmes said there was widespread confusion about whether they may qualify for Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Attendance Allowance. Hundreds of thousands of people don't receive key benefits such as they even though they qualify. READ MORE: New cost of living payments announced for six million households Get our best money saving tips and hacks by signing up to our newsletter This is usually because of a lack of awareness or an assumption they cannot get help. Universal Credit and Attendance Allowance are each worth up to £400 a month and Pension Credit £908 a month. Winter Fuel Payments and the Warm Home Discount are both being extended to reach more people. But experts also want pensioners worried about their finances, and their loved ones, to check if they can get other benefits. Phil Burrows, head of customer vulnerability and social purpose at Cadent, said: "News this week of a reduction in the Energy Price Cap and the Government's desire to make more pensioners eligible for Winter Fuel Payments, will be welcome for households across the UK. "But, as an industry, we cannot afford to become complacent. "Despite the seasonal shift, we're still seeing sustained – and in many cases, increasing – footfall at our Centres for Warmth across the country, with people continuing to seek refuge and support, particularly around debt. 'We saw demand for financial support surge by 118% last winter, with over 20,000 individuals accessing these vital services through Cadent's national Centre for Warmth programme. "Almost three-quarters of centres offering financial support have seen an average increase of 225% in usage, compared to 2023. 'The support most utilised at our centres includes guidance on accessing Attendance Allowance, Pension Credit, and Universal Credit, a clear sign that many are still unaware of the help they could be receiving. "These findings highlight the growing financial pressure on vulnerable households, and while these measures are supportive, the scale of rising need remains deeply concerning."
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Caister Health Centre where staff fell ill remains closed
Caister Health Centre in Norfolk is to stay shut all next week, as health bosses try to find out why staff began to feel GP surgery and dental practice have been closed since 6 May when the site was evacuated as a precaution. The month before, 16 people were assessed by medics complaining of headaches and at the on-site pharmacy have been operating a restricted service, dispensing prescriptions at the door with the shop not accessible to the Knights, executive manager of East Norfolk Medical Practice that runs the GP service, said: "We will definitely remain closed at Caister next week." The practice has not given any details about its investigation, nor stated whether it has found any link to staff feeling 29 April, more than a dozen people complained about feeling ill, with four of those seeking attention at James Paget University Hospital.A week later on 6 May, the site was evacuated as a precaution with emergency services called again, as well as engineers from gas network operator Cadent and Anglian Water, which manages the sewer network. Neither found any G Plummer and Associates said it had deployed staff from Caister to its new dental practice in Bradwell, but said some Caister patients had asked for their appointments to be delayed until the site reopens. East Norfolk Medical Practice said it had deferred its patients to Newtown Surgery in Great Yarmouth, with other practices in the group also assisting in maintaining a statement, it said: "We will remain closed until further notice whilst the investigation continues."The investigation is ongoing and no conclusion [has been] reached." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
