Utility Week

My thoughts with Andrew Clark in Utility Week on how Energy Systems Catapult sees GB Energy leveraging investment at the local level by funding and supporting every area to have a Local Area Energy Plan. There's lots of discussion on what the sparkly unicorn might be, but one of the key roles I see it having is that GB Energy can help de-risk investment and bridge the gap between local ambition and capacity, and accelerate the pace and scale up of local clean energy projects. How we navigate the Net Zero journey in a fair and just way must underpin every policy decision. By funding LAEPs, GB Energy will ensure every place has a voice in the clean energy transition. https://lnkd.in/ger2PnXG

What a privilege it was to shine the light on the remarkable women working within our sector. The inaugural Women in Utilities Awards – brought to you by WUN - Womens Utilities Network and in association Utility Week,   Congratulations to all finalists & particularly our winners: Thames Water, Tessa Ryan, P.Eng Jersey Electricity Nikolaj Lyngbye Kolbe Centrica Energy , Sophia Goring, Business Stream, Jenny Rhodes SES Water Carine Bou Tayeh, Jersey Electricity, Nina Möger Bengtsson KRAKEN TECHNOLOGIES , Nicole McNab Southern Water , E.ON & Jo Dow, Business Stream.   As we heard so eloquently from Dame Sarah Storey these women & organisations are pushing down barriers & opening doors for other to follow – it inspires us that the sector will be in safe hands if we continue to tap into such great talent.   This was also a milestone day for WUN - Womens Utilities Network, as a not for profit organisation, that from an initial spark of an idea that has grown to over 7,000 members & continues to be ambitious to support women across the sector to join, stay & thrive.   This could not have been done with the drive & passion of past & present WUN Founders, current directors Jo Butlin, Hayley Monks MCICM (Grad) Sarah Hopkins, Louise Wapshare Louise Parry FCIPD Sarah McMath, Sharon Sage & of course the support of all the WUN advocates & WUN partners.   See you next year at the Women in Utilities Awards - Friday 27th June 2025– save the date ! …..Until then keep spreading the word & encourage others to join WUN - Womens Utilities Network https://thewun.co.uk/   #WUN #Utilities #inspiringwomen #networking  

The Utility Week Consumer Vulnerability & Debt Conference returns to Birmingham on 17 September 2024. It will bring together utility leaders to innovate and collaborate to ensure support is easily accessible for vulnerable customers for winter 24/25. Download the brochure and find out more: https://bit.ly/44SMq7M #vulnerabilityanddebt

💧 It's PR24 day and we will be bringing you the latest updates on Ofwat's draft determinations. You can follow the latest news here:

As the new government comes into power, utility leaders must be ready to respond to a fresh vision and set of manifesto pledges, with existing institutions restructured and decarbonisation targets accelerated. Utility Week Forum, 19-20 November, London, gives senior utilities leaders and stakeholders the opportunity to set out what they need to deliver, turning the government’s promises into progress. Find out more and secure your place ➡️ https://bit.ly/3W1JPo5

🚨 Ofwat cuts £16bn from business plans and curbs bill increases 🚨 Ofwat has told water companies that it wants to cut £16 billion from their combined spending ask for the next investment period (PR24). The regulator has proposed approving a spending package of £88 billion in its draft determinations of water company business plans. While still £29 billion more than companies were awarded in PR19, it represents a 15% decrease on the £104 billion requested. https://buff.ly/3VWC1Ut 💧 Independent monitor to oversee Thames Water Elsewhere, Ofwat has announced plans to appoint an “independent monitor” to oversee Thames Water and suggested it may need to split into separate companies. The regulator said that “given concerns about the performance of the company” it is exploring the option of appointing a third party to “monitor and report on the company’s progress” and “be entitled to full access to company information”. More here: https://buff.ly/3S3SK70

Utility Week's webinar on 12 July at 11am, hosted in association with Causeway: Do skills shortages keep you awake at night? Join our webinar to learn how to reduce risk and improve compliance as workforces swell: https://bit.ly/3W0eT8Y #Utilities #Causeway

Without a common data sharing infrastructure, the UK's climate ambitions will not be delivered, National Grid ESO's chief information officer warns. Writing for Utility Week, Shubhi Rajnish explores how sharing data across industry can help the UK secure net zero.

Top stories today 💷 Thames warns cashflow will dry up in less than a year https://buff.ly/3XXP7U3 Thames Water has said it can continue to fund day-to-day operations for another 11 months but stressed its future hinges on a "financeable and deliverable" regulatory settlement from Ofwat this week. The company, which confirmed it will seek a fresh £3.25 billion of equity investment this summer, reported EBITDA up 21% in 2023/24 as well as recording its first underlying profit in four years. 💧 Thames CEO: ‘Ofwat must make concessions too’ https://buff.ly/3XQMZgS Thames Water's chief executive has admitted the company has to "get better at living within our means" but stressed "Ofwat has to consider what those means look like over time". Chris Weston discusses the search for new investment and why liquidity pressures will not necessarily dissuade the company from appealing its PR24 determination. 💼 Stark to head Labour’s ‘Mission Control’ for 2030 clean grid https://buff.ly/4dd7bOz The government has appointed former Climate Change Committee chief executive Chris Stark to lead a new “control centre” guiding its pledge to decarbonise the power system by 2030. Energy secretary Ed Miliband said the new ‘Mission Control’ would work with Ofgem and the embryonic National Energy System Operator to deliver Labour’s ambitious goal.

Utility Week Introduces: Automa Utilities looking for a control and monitoring partner well-versed in the twin challenges of digitalisation and improving operational efficiency should consider Automa, as sales and marketing director Stefano Menghini explains. Read here: https://bit.ly/3Lgd3dG #Utilities #Automa.