David Hinton, chief executive of South East Water, could receive a £400,000 bonus despite leaving tens of thousands of households without water. The company has faced widespread criticism after repeated supply disruptions in Kent and Sussex since November, with around 30,000 properties affected at the peak.
Mr Hinton received a 30% pay rise last year, taking his total pay and perks to £457,000, including a £115,000 bonus. His basic salary is set to jump another 30% to £400,000 from April 2025, and he could also qualify for a £400,000 'service award' in 2030. Additionally, he received £50,000 for negotiating bill increases that saw customers' bills rise by a fifth.
Industry regulator Ofwat has launched an investigation into South East Water's performance, which could result in a fine of up to 10% of turnover or even loss of its licence. The investigation follows months of supply problems, with Tunbridge Wells experiencing a near two-week outage affecting 24,000 properties.
James Wallace, CEO of River Action, criticised the potential bonus, calling it 'corporate arrogance' and urging the government to reform the water sector. Consumer groups have also condemned the company's performance, with Mike Keil of the Consumer Council for Water saying 'all options should be on the table to punish' South East Water.
