Who was sanctioned, and for what?

Between 2019 and 2021, untreated sewage, sewage residues, diesel from a generator and waste entered a stream and the sea around Faversham and Whitstable; the circumstances of one incident were not reported to the Environment Agency, around 70 fish died, and bathing warnings were in place at beaches in Tankerton and Herne Bay for almost a week. The court imposed a fine of 2,416,666.67 GBP, 69,894.04 GBP in costs and a 190 GBP victim surcharge; it was the company's second conviction that year (announcement of 22 September 2026, exact date of judgment not stated). According to the annual accounts filed with the UK companies register for financial year 2026, the company had around 3,109 employees.

Authority / court

Bromley Magistrates' Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Regulations 12(1)(b) und 38(1)(a) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Energy and utilities

Employees

1,000 to 9,999

Repeat case

yes

Published

22 Sep 2026

Original amount 2,486,750.71 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 22 Sep 2026.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 3 · Direct link

Following a partial pipe collapse at the Fleetwood wastewater treatment works, untreated sewage flowed from three pumping stations into the Irish Sea for over 35 hours in June 2023; seven bathing waters were affected and shellfish beds were closed. The water company pleaded guilty to five offences and must pay a fine of 900,000 GBP, 62,225 GBP in costs and a 2,000 GBP victim surcharge. According to the annual accounts filed with the UK companies register for financial year 2026, the company had around 6,678 full-time equivalent employees.

Authority / court

Preston Magistrates' Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Regulation 38(2) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Energy and utilities

Employees

1,000 to 9,999

Culpability

negligent

Mitigating circumstances

Around 38 million GBP invested in response and repair, and a voluntary payment of 250,000 GBP to Blackpool Council.

Published

8 Sep 2026

Original amount 964,225 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 8 Sep 2026.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 3 · Direct link

Canterbury Crown Court fined Southern Water £7,127,083 for 13 breaches of the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016, plus £149,000 in prosecution costs and a £181 victim surcharge. Between 2019 and 2021, failed pumps and poorly maintained equipment at the Margate and Broadstairs pumping stations led to several discharges of untreated sewage into the sea, some of which were reported only the next day or weeks later; beaches had to be closed. The company also admitted 35 further unlawful discharges from the same period.

Authority / court

Canterbury Crown Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Reg. 12(1)(b) und 38(1)(a) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Energy and utilities

Repeat case

yes

Published

17 Jul 2026

Original amount 7,127,083 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 17 Jul 2026.

Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link

The company paid HMRC a compound settlement of £569,157.07 for alleged breaches of the Russia sanctions. According to HMRC, while withdrawing from Russia in 2022/2023 it allegedly made sanctioned industrial goods available on two occasions to a person connected with Russia or for use in Russia, and provided related technical assistance. According to HMRC, this is the first time it has publicly named the company behind such a settlement.

Authority / court

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)

Area of law

Sanctions and export control · Breaches of sanctions and embargoes

Legal basis

Reg. 46Y(2)(c) und Reg. 46Z(1)(b) Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Energy and utilities

Mitigating circumstances

Voluntary disclosure and full cooperation with HMRC.

Published

29 Jun 2026

Original amount 569,157.07 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 29 Jun 2026.

Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link

Esso was fined £1m and ordered to pay £12,277 in costs. On 8 November 2022, a corroded steel tower at the Fawley refinery partially collapsed, damaged pipework and released around 2,400 kg of liquefied petroleum gas over 33 hours; workers were exposed to the risk of falling debris and potential burns. According to the Health and Safety Executive's investigation, the corrosion had been known since 2010 without appropriate action being taken.

Authority / court

Southampton Magistrates' Court (Anklage: Health and Safety Executive)

Area of law

Health and safety and employment law · Workplace safety and accidents

Legal basis

Section 3(1) Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Energy and utilities

Mitigating circumstances

Guilty plea; no injuries.

Published

15 Jun 2026

Original amount 1,000,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 12 Jun 2026.

Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link

Ofgem found that OVO Energy did not adequately monitor prepayment customers in vulnerable situations, did not properly support customers who self-disconnected and did not maintain the Priority Services Register properly; some internal training materials were unclear and contradictory. By way of alternative action, OVO is paying GBP 7m into the voluntary redress fund and providing GBP 3.4m in credit and debt relief to its most vulnerable customers; under a separate compliance engagement it is also paying GBP 1.1m to customers in the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Authority / court

Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem)

Area of law

Consumer protection and online retail

Legal basis

Standard Licence Conditions 26.1, 26.4, 26.5(d)(f), 27A.1, 28.1A/28.1B, 28.2 und 28.4 der Gas- und Stromversorgungslizenzen

Action

Other

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Energy and utilities

Mitigating circumstances

Remedial action during the investigation, including welfare visits to customers who had been disconnected for more than 72 hours.

Published

3 Jun 2026

Original amount 10,400,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 3 Jun 2026.

Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link

In 2020, malware entered the water supplier's network via a phishing e-mail and remained undetected for around 20 months; in 2022, attackers obtained administrator rights and stole data on 633,887 people, which ended up on the dark web. The UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) criticised, among other things, monitoring of only 5% of the IT environment, outdated software such as Windows Server 2003 and a lack of vulnerability and patch management.

Authority / court

Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)

Area of law

Data protection · Data breaches and data security

Legal basis

UK GDPR Art. 5 Abs. 1 lit. f, Art. 32 Abs. 1

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Energy and utilities

Culpability

negligent

Mitigating circumstances

40% reduction for early admission of liability; payment agreed without appeal.

Published

11 May 2026

Original amount 963,900 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 7 May 2026.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

The ICO fined Energy Prices Direct Limited, an energy switching broker, £160,000. The ICO found that the company had obtained contact details from public sources and list providers and did not screen them against the TPS/CTPS registers before making marketing calls. The legal basis is regulations 21 and 24 of PECR. Under the notice, timely payment reduces the amount by 20% to £128,000.

Authority / court

Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)

Area of law

Data protection · Marketing and consent

Legal basis

Regulations 21 und 24 PECR; section 55A DPA 1998

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Energy and utilities

Original amount 160,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 30 Mar 2026.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 2 · Direct link

Between 2016 and 2021, the transmission system operator did not adequately monitor, maintain and repair the civil structures of the 132 kV Harker substation near Carlisle – a hub for electricity exchange between Scotland and England – and thereby also delayed grid connections. NGET accepted the breaches and paid 20 million GBP into the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme.

Authority / court

Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem)

Area of law

Other

Legal basis

Electricity Act 1989, s. 9(2); Standard Licence Condition B7 (Transmission Licence)

Action

Other

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Energy and utilities

Original amount 20,000,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 11 Mar 2026.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

The energy services company published incorrect results for the 2022 and 2023 financial years and for the first half of 2024; accounting judgements were influenced by the desire to maintain previously reported figures, and systems and controls were inadequate. The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) imposed a fine of 12,993,700 GBP (18,562,500 GBP without the 30 % discount).

Authority / court

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

Area of law

Capital markets and financial supervision · Disclosure and reporting obligations

Legal basis

Listing Rule 1.3.3R; Listing Principle 1

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Energy and utilities

Employees

10,000 or more

Mitigating circumstances

30 % discount for early settlement and acceptance of the findings

Published

4 Mar 2026

Original amount 12,993,700 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 3 Mar 2026.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

Between October 2018 and August 2019, untreated sewage entered a brook in Pools Brook Country Park on three occasions – due to a burst rising main, a blockage caused by wet wipes and a failing pipe coupling; during the first incident, fish died in the park lake. Yorkshire Water had already pleaded guilty in January 2024 and had not attended any of the interviews; the court imposed a fine of 733,333 GBP plus costs. According to the annual accounts filed with the UK companies register for financial year 2026, the company had around 4,481 employees.

Authority / court

Derby Crown Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Regulations 12(1)(b) und 38(1)(a) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Energy and utilities

Employees

1,000 to 9,999

Culpability

negligent

Repeat case

yes

Published

23 Feb 2026

Original amount 733,333 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 23 Feb 2026.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 3 · Direct link

The Environment Agency accepted an enforcement undertaking from Severn Trent Water under which the company pays £1,500,000 to Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, covers the agency's costs and commits to remedial action. It concerns two unauthorised sewage discharges from the Blackminster treatment works near Evesham into Broadway Brook on 12 June and 20 August 2022 and a breach of permit conditions.

Authority / court

Environment Agency

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Reg. 38(1) und 38(2) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010/2016

Action

Other

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Energy and utilities

Original amount 1,500,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 12 Feb 2026.

Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link

The Environment Agency accepted an enforcement undertaking from Perenco UK: the company pays £401,447 to five local organisations (£60,000, £30,000, £200,547, £10,000 and £100,900), covers the agency's costs and commits to remedial measures. The underlying offence was a breach of a permit condition: an inadequately maintained oil pipe at the Wytch Farm site had corroded, and on 23 March 2023 crude oil or reservoir fluid escaped into Ower Bay in Poole Harbour. According to the agency, the overall package amounts to around £6.1m, including response and clean-up costs and £620,000 paid to affected parties.

Authority / court

Environment Agency

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Reg. 38(2) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010/2016; Environmental Civil Sanctions (England) Order 2010

Action

Other

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Energy and utilities

Mitigating circumstances

Substantial costs already incurred for response and clean-up, and measures taken to prevent a recurrence (the agency's reasons for accepting the offer).

Published

13 Mar 2026

Original amount 401,447 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 23 Dec 2025.

Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link

Shell UK pleaded guilty to two charges under the offshore fire and explosion regulations (PFEER 1995) and was fined £560,000. On 19 May 2017, around 200 kg of gas and 1,550 kg of crude oil escaped into a concrete leg of the Brent Charlie platform from corroded pipework that had originally been installed only temporarily; the ventilation systems had also been inadequately maintained. More than 170 people on board were exposed to a potential fire and explosion risk.

Authority / court

Aberdeen Sheriff Court (Ermittlung: Health and Safety Executive)

Area of law

Health and safety and employment law · Workplace safety and accidents

Legal basis

Offshore Installations (Prevention of Fire and Explosion, and Emergency Response) Regulations 1995 (PFEER), zwei Anklagepunkte

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Energy and utilities

Mitigating circumstances

Guilty plea; the court set the fine after taking mitigating factors into account.

Published

28 Nov 2025

Original amount 560,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 25 Nov 2025.

Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link

After an inlet valve failed at Ingbirchworth water treatment works, around one million litres of chlorinated water a day flowed via the emergency overflow into Ingbirchworth Dike from November 2017; more than 430 dead fish were found on a single day. The capacity alarm was set above the overflow level; fine of 865,000 GBP plus 34,979.79 GBP in costs. According to its annual accounts (to March 2026), the utility employed an average of 4,481 people.

Authority / court

Sheffield Magistrates' Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Regulation 12(1)(b) und 38(1)(a) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Energy and utilities

Employees

1,000 to 9,999

Culpability

negligent

Repeat case

yes

Published

31 Jul 2025

Original amount 865,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 30 Jul 2025.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 2 · Direct link

Ofgem found that the business electricity supplier lacked robust, documented processes – they relied on the knowledge of a single employee – and therefore collected direct debits from customers it was not, or no longer, supplying; 25 customers suffered a detriment of around GBP 175,000. Following a provisional order in May 2024, the authority confirmed a penalty of GBP 223,676, from which it deducted GBP 9,096 in goodwill payments already made, leaving GBP 214,580 to pay.

Authority / court

Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) für die Gas and Electricity Markets Authority

Area of law

Consumer protection and online retail

Legal basis

Standard Licence Condition 4A.1 der Stromversorgungslizenz; section 27A Electricity Act 1989

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Energy and utilities

Employees

Under 50

Mitigating circumstances

Remedial action after the provisional order; goodwill payments of GBP 9,096 already made were credited.

Published

19 Jun 2025

Original amount 214,580 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 16 Jun 2025.

Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link

In 2022/23, the gas distribution network operator failed to meet the licence requirement in its southern England network to attend 97% of reported gas escapes within one or two hours respectively. Following self-reporting, it acknowledged the breach and paid 5.8 million GBP into the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Fund; the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) pointed to the significant risk to the public.

Authority / court

Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem)

Area of law

Other

Legal basis

Gas Transporter Licence, Standard Special Condition D10 2(h)

Action

Other

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Energy and utilities

Mitigating circumstances

Self-reporting before the formal data submission; targets met for two years since.

Original amount 5,800,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 30 May 2025.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

In 2022/23, the gas distribution network operator failed to meet the licence requirement in its North London and North West networks to attend 97% of reported gas escapes within one or two hours respectively. Following self-reporting, it acknowledged the breach and paid 1.5 million GBP into the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Fund; the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) pointed to the significant risk to the public.

Authority / court

Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem)

Area of law

Other

Legal basis

Gas Transporter Licence, Standard Special Condition D10 2(h)

Action

Other

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Energy and utilities

Mitigating circumstances

Self-reporting before the formal data submission; targets met for two years since.

Original amount 1,500,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 30 May 2025.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

In 2022/23, the gas distribution network operator failed to meet the licence requirement in its Scottish network to attend 97% of reported gas escapes within one or two hours respectively. Following self-reporting, it acknowledged the breach and paid 700,000 GBP into the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Fund; the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) pointed to the significant risk to the public.

Authority / court

Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem)

Area of law

Other

Legal basis

Gas Transporter Licence, Standard Special Condition D10 2(h)

Action

Other

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Energy and utilities

Mitigating circumstances

Self-reporting before the formal data submission; targets met for two years since.

Original amount 700,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 30 May 2025.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

The backup pump at Fossbridge pumping station in York was out of action for five months, although the defect had repeatedly been noted during maintenance; as a result, sewage flowed into Foss Dyke in March 2018. For the discharge and the breach of the maintenance permit condition, the court imposed 350,000 GBP plus 14,028.65 GBP in costs. According to its annual accounts (to March 2026), the utility employed an average of 4,481 people (previous year 3,876).

Authority / court

York Magistrates' Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Regulation 12(1)(b), 38(1)(a) und 38(2) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Energy and utilities

Employees

1,000 to 9,999

Published

30 May 2025

Original amount 350,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 30 May 2025.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 2 · Direct link