Three gas firms fined £8m by Ofgem for being too slow to attend leaks

Ofgem says the three companies have met their targets in the two years since the breach. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

The energy watchdog for Great Britain has fined three companies £8m for failing to respond to some gas leak emergencies quickly enough, potentially putting the public at “serious risk”.

Ofgem said the three firms – Cadent Gas, Scotland Gas Networks (SGN Scotland) and Southern Gas Networks (SGN Southern) – had agreed to pay the fine after missing callout targets that require them to attend suspected gas leaks within one to two hours in 97% of cases.