Thames Water has been accused by Reading MP Yuan Yang of trying to delay paying a £122.7 million Ofwat fine until 2030.
Ms Yang says the company illegally dumped sewage, paid dividends it couldn't afford and is lobbying to have the fine shelved. She is pushing to hold the firm to account in Parliament.
She says her office has won over £12,000 of bill forgiveness for local customers and has called for Thames Water bosses to appear in Parliament. Ms Yang is also running a survey asking residents about their experiences and whether the company should be allowed to escape Ofwat fines.
She has urged Ofwat to reject any attempt to delay the fine.
A Thames Water spokesperson said Ofwat authorised a payment plan in August 2025. The company has already paid £24.5m and, the spokesperson said, the remaining 80 per cent will be paid at the earliest of three events: 30 days after a restructuring that improves cash liquidity; 30 days after exiting a Special Administration Regime if it has been in SAR; or a backstop date of March 31, 2030.
The spokesperson added that firms can apply to Ofwat for a payment plan and that Thames Water is delivering what it called the biggest upgrade to its network in 150 years.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
