Water regulator Ofwat on Friday fined Southern Water £20.3m ($39.5m) for misreporting data and poor customer service, saying the company would not be allowed to pass on the cost of the fine to customers.

Southern Water accepted the fine. Les Dawson, the group’s chief executive, said: “Today’s announcement draws a line under a shameful period in the company’s history when an area of the business was deceiving our customers and the regulator.