Utility Week

Third-party financing and delivery of smart meter programmes could cut costs and risk in AMP8. Daniel Reilly and Carmen Strickland of Horizon Water Infrastructure explain more. Click here to read, created in association with Horizon Water Infrastructure: https://bit.ly/3Y4DSZz #Utilities #SmartWaterMeter

(£) Top stories today 💧 Lords: Don’t expect ‘shambolic’ Ofwat to sort out water companies https://buff.ly/4h0GoHE The government has been warned against “pinning its hopes” on existing regulators to turn around the performance of water companies. Specifically, government has been urged to reconsider the effectiveness of granting additional powers to the Environment Agency and Ofwat by members of the UK House of Lords. Lords from all sides of the house raised concerns about both regulators, during the second reading of the Water Special Measures Bill, labelling Ofwat as “shambolic” and “weak”. 💡 Sweeteners for new customers may be allowed under BAT reforms https://buff.ly/4dO5E14 Energy retailers may be allowed to make introductory offers to entice in new customers under possible changes to the Ban on Acquisition Only Tariffs (BAT). That is one idea being floated by Ofgem, which is exploring the possibility of making the BAT a permanent feature of the energy market. Ofgem has operated on the basis that any rewards and promotions exclusively aimed at new customers are almost certainly going to be in breach of the ban and as such, it has advised suppliers to refrain from making such offers. The regulator has however hinted that it would be open to amending the rules to allow suppliers to make “introductory offers” for new customers. 🟢 Reducing VAT for all retrofit improvements would boost green growth https://buff.ly/4eZpA1Z The Budget marks a real opportunity to give a boost to green growth that could help address the heat-leaking homes blighting the lives of millions of low-income households and families across Britain. Writing for Utility Week, National Warm Homes Council chair David Lennan explores how the chancellor can support homeowners to lower their emissions and bills while creating more jobs and bolstering the UK economy.

👨💻 Digital Weekly: Labour’s first 100 days (£) The Starmer government put energy at the heart of its election manifesto but how much has it actually achieved in its first 100 days in power? As well as exploring the government’s approach to energy policy we explore findings from the latest trial of heat pump flexibility, and we also delve into Ofwat’s analysis of water company performance over the past year. https://buff.ly/4gXQyca

Kelvatek’s technology is expected to be widely adopted by networks to meet safety commitments and get power back up and running quickly in the event of a storm. Read Utility Week’s new report, created in association with Kelvatek, which explains more: https://bit.ly/4eu6qBy #Utilities #Kelvatek

Top stories today (£) 📈 Capacity-based auctions would mitigate ‘perverse incentives’ of CfD scheme https://buff.ly/3U1dkpy Contracts for Difference (CfD) auctions should be overhauled to focus on capacity rather than price. That is according to leading renewable energy figures who claim the current system makes it difficult to plan ahead and creates “perverse incentives” for developers to overinflate their bids. EDF Renewables UK & Ireland head of policy David Acres has therefore called on the government to move away from setting financial budgets for allocation rounds and instead set GW capacity targets. 🔋 Ofgem to design cap and floor scheme for long duration storage https://buff.ly/4eYzDEx The government is pressing ahead with plans to introduce a cap and floor mechanism to support the development of Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) schemes. Ofgem has been tasked with designing the investment support scheme and will act as the scheme’s administrator once it is up and running. 💷 Energy code managers to operate on a not-for-profit basis https://buff.ly/4fgVck3 The code managers which will be responsible for proposing and developing changes to energy industry codes will all operate on a not-for-profit basis, the government has confirmed. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said this will ensure that code managers focus on meeting the needs of industry and achieving wider strategic goals, rather than maximising their profits.

Top stories today (£) 💧 Ofwat threatens to extend turnaround regime to poor performers https://buff.ly/3YgTXM0 Ofwat has warned water companies that it will not hesitate in extending its oversight regime to keep closer tabs on persistent poor performers. Thames Water is currently the only firm subject to the oversight regime, however, the regulator said it was considering extending the special measures to more underperforming companies. It comes as the regulator handed out more than £200 million worth of fines in performance-related penalties. 🚿 Thames Water’s mains challenge | Working underground in London hotspot https://buff.ly/482budR Thames Water’s blight in the boardroom has been well documented over the years. However, the water company faces an equally great challenge to upgrade its ageing infrastructure beneath the streets of London. Utility Week heads to the site of one of Thames’ most challenging mains upgrades as the project nears completion. ⚡ Superconductor study among 21 innovation projects to win Ofgem funding https://buff.ly/3XQSaM8 Ofgem has awarded almost £9.8 million to 21 projects in the alpha phase of the third round of its Strategic Innovation Fund. Among the successful applicants is a project by National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) to investigate the potential use of superconductors to transmit large volumes of power at low voltages, while reducing energy losses to almost zero.

Top stories today (£) ❄️ NESO forecasts largest winter supply margin in five years https://buff.ly/3YeqbHt The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has forecast an increased supply margin over the winter despite the recent closure of the UK’s last coal-fired power station. NESO said it expects available generation to exceed peak demand by 8.8% - the largest margin forecast in five years. The body has also played down fears over changes made to the Demand Flexibility Service ahead of its return this winter. ⚡ Ofgem forms LDES team ahead of governance decision https://buff.ly/3XZgU4Y Ofgem has established a new team solely focussed on Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES). The formation of the group comes with the government poised to rule on the long-term governance of a bespoke LDES support mechanism. Utility Week understands that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) will be publishing its response to the LDES consultation this month and could even make an announcement as early as this week. 💧 Making the case for investment in the water sector of the future https://buff.ly/3ZQrOfS Billions of pounds must be invested in the UK’s water sector before the end of the decade. But do we have the right targets? And is the correct balance being struck between investing in capital projects and maintaining existing infrastructure?

Top stories today (£) 📰 Weekend Press: ‘Power market reforms pose danger to industry and investment’ https://buff.ly/3ZZ72uJ In our latest round-up of sector coverage in the national media, trade bodies have warned that locational electricity pricing risks deterring investment in UK manufacturing. Meanwhile, Southern Water is reported to be tapping up investors for a further £4 billion; Centrica is said to be exploring a £1 billion investment in Hinkley Point C and National Grid’s CEO addresses public opposition to a wave of new pylons. 🪁 Ex-energy minister admits onshore wind ban was ‘always mad’ https://buff.ly/4ez63FM Former energy minister Rt Hon Graham Stuart has admitted that previous governments' effective planning ban on onshore wind farms was “always mad”. Stuart – who served as energy minister under the Conservative government from 2022 until earlier this year – said the Labour government has made “some correct early moves”, including lifting the ban. He made the comments at a fringe meeting at The Conservative Party Conference, where he also appealed for his party to resist the temptation to become “anti-net zero”. 💧 Holy water row | Affinity settles 60-year billing dispute with priest https://buff.ly/47STXF3 Affinity Water has settled a billing dispute with a Catholic priest who claims he was overcharged for the best part of 60 years. The undisclosed out of court settlement was reached after the cleric contested water charges dating back to 1967. The dispute centred on the way Affinity had separately billed the church and an adjoining maisonette occupied by the resident priest. ⛔ Energy UK rejects move to raise national planning threshold for onshore wind https://buff.ly/3ZUCA4L Energy UK has rejected government proposals to increase the threshold for onshore wind projects to be treated as nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs), while also calling for all rooftop solar to be given fast-track planning consent. The trade body says it is "very strongly supportive" of the government’s proposal to restore onshore wind to the NSIP regime, taking planning approval away from local councils and giving it to central government. However, it disagrees with proposals which would increase the threshold for NSIP qualification from 50MW to 100MW for onshore wind schemes.

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Smart water meters: Partnerships on the horizon. Learn more from Utility Week in association with Horizon Water Infrastructure. Click here to read: https://bit.ly/3Y4DSZz #Utilities #SmartWaterMeter