Latest news with #penalties
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
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Energy firms pay £8m in penalties after attending some gas leaks late
Three gas distribution companies are paying a combined £8 million in penalties after failing to attend some gas emergency reports on time. Regulator Ofgem said Cadent Gas, Scotland Gas Networks and Southern Gas Networks have voluntarily agreed to pay the funds after missing their targets between 2022 and 2023. Ofgem's rules require companies which manage the gas network to attend reports of suspected gas leaks within one or two hours, depending on the incident, in 97% of cases. Southern Gas Networks will pay £5.8 million, 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.' Ofgem said it opened an investigation into the three companies after they self-reported missing their targets. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Energy firms pay £8m in penalties after attending some gas leaks late
Three gas distribution companies are paying a combined £8 million in penalties after failing to attend some gas emergency reports on time. Regulator Ofgem said Cadent Gas, Scotland Gas Networks and Southern Gas Networks have voluntarily agreed to pay the funds after missing their targets between 2022 and 2023. Ofgem's rules require companies which manage the gas network to attend reports of suspected gas leaks within one or two hours, depending on the incident, in 97% of cases. Southern Gas Networks will pay £5.8 million, 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.' Ofgem said it opened an investigation into the three companies after they self-reported missing their targets.
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
SEC amps up fines to $500,000 for rushing field, storming court
MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The Southeastern Conference is ratcheting up penalties on schools whose fans storm the field or rush the court, doing away with an escalating fine system and now charging $500,000 per incident. 'The motivation was 'field rushing is field rushing, the first time or the 18th time,'' commissioner Greg Sankey said Thursday in announcing the decision. 'The random nature of, if you're the one getting rushed, it doesn't feel good. It might be the first time (it happened) there, but it might be your sixth time in a row, literally.' The conference also has the authority to wave the fine if the visiting team and officials are allowed to get to the locker room before fans descend. The new policy replaces an old one that called for an escalating fine structure that started with $100,000 for the first offense, raised to $250,000 for the second then hit $500,000 for the third and subsequent incidents. The SEC first instituted a fine structure for field storming in 2004, but it didn't stop the problem. In 2022, Tennessee fans stormed the field after ending a 15-game losing streak to Alabama. But things became congested and some of the Crimson Tide players were trapped; a video surfaced of a Tide player thrusting his arm toward a woman's head as he tried to get off the field. Last year, Vanderbilt beat Alabama at home, triggering fans to rush the field, tear down the goalposts and parade them to the Cumberland River. The Commodores were fined $100,000 and, per SEC policy, that money went to Alabama, which also received $100,000 for an incident after a loss at Tennessee last season. Vanderbilt got fined twice more last basketball season, the last of which cost $500,000. 'We try to set some expectations to the fan base of 'We'll welcome your celebration, but let's let the team from the visiting institution and the officials depart,'' Sankey said. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: and
