Could the Christmas floods herald more responsibility for water firms?

As severe storms hit the UK over Christmas, the government bowed to pressure to review flood defence spending, and water companies may have a role to play.

Following vicious November storms, the first in the UK to be given names, further bad weather struck over the Christmas period, causing “devastating” flooding in many parts of the country, and forcing the government to admit that flood defence spending will need to be reviewed.

Particularly hard hit by the latest storms, Eva and Frank, is Yorkshire Water, which has been forced to draft in extra manpower and essential equipment from fellow water companies Wessex Water, Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent Water and Welsh Water.

And the bad weather looks set to continue, the Environment Agency has warned, with Storm Gertrude hitting the West Country and Storm Henry expected to follow. At the time of going to press, 28 flood warnings and 156 flood alerts were in force across the UK.

Sewerage companies are currently responsible for protecting their vital assets – such as water pumping stations and treatment works – from being flooded, as well as clearing properties affected by sewer flooding. But murmurs in the industry that they could be given a greater role in larger flood defence schemes have now resumed. Companies have been working tirelessly to help with emergency flood relief efforts and alleviate the damage to their assets caused by floods.

Ofwat chief executive Cathryn Ross suggested in October that now would be a good time for a debate on whether water firms could play a greater role in flood defence schemes, saying she could envisage “a situation in which water companies could perform useful functions around flood protection and flood defences”. The regulator did, however, emphasise that any decision about where to go in this area is one for government.

Conservative peer Lord Gardiner said at the time that the government is not planning to launch a tender process. And the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) tells Utility Week it still has no plans to review water companies’ roles on flooding. However, following what has been described as the “worst flooding in 70 years”, and with the government pledging a review of flood defence spending, the time seems ripe for a discussion on the role water firms can play in flood prevention.

The feeling in the sector is mixed. Although Water UK, the trade association for the sector, declined to comment, Severn Trent Water has voiced its support for a debate on water firms’ role in flood defences, telling Utility Week that it’s an “interesting idea”, but is ultimately a question for government. “In the meantime, we’re concentrating on protecting our customers from sewer flooding which is obviously incredibly important, especially at this time of year,” a spokesperson for the firm says. Yet Anglian Water argues that, although the floods this Christmas are “extreme”, partnership working can help resolve flooding issues locally, without necessarily needing a “sweeping reform” of ownership and responsibilities.

The Prime Minister has announced a package of more than £40 million to rebuild and improve flood defences in the aftermath of Storm Eva alone, taking investment in recovery from Storm Eva and Storm Desmond to nearly £200 million.

However, Environment Agency deputy chief executive David Rooke told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme there is a need for a “complete rethink” on flood defence, with more emphasis on resilience. And with December a record-breaking month for rainfall in many parts of the UK, and flooding becoming an ever-more common occurrence, the government may be forced to reconsider the role of the water companies as well.

Energy networks battle to restore power

Three distribution network operators have been battling to restore power to tens of thousands of customers over the festive period after storms Desmond, Eva and Frank brought flooding to the north of Britain, cutting electricity supplies.

Electricity North West (ENW), Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution (SHEPD) and Northern Powergrid have faced repeated power losses due to flooding, but the Energy Networks Association (ENA) said networks have pulled together to ensure customers have been reconnected as quickly as possible, and all customers are now back on supply.

The ENA said it has worked throughout the festive period to provide to aid the sharing of resources, providing teleconferences for DNO emergency managers so support could be effectively organised.

A spokesperson for the ENA said: “During the recent storms, network companies worked together very effectively to support those most affected by the severe weather.

“The long standing NEWSAC mutual aid agreements helped with equipment, vehicles and engineers including generators and helicopters to assess damage, plan repair work and get customers’ power restored as quickly and safely as possible.”

SHEPD faced the brunt of reconnections following storm Frank last week as 50,000 homes lost power when the storm hit the north of Scotland on the evening of December 29. It said all customers had been reconnected by the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, and the network had returned to “business as usual” by New Year’s Day. However 100 engineers were on the ground in Ballater, an area particularly badly hit by flooding, checking customer’s equipment for safety on New Year’s Day welfare vans were kept in the area to help customers after power was restored.

SHEPD director of customer services Dale Cargill said: “In the flood hit areas, such as Ballater, we’ve been working closely with Police Scotland and local authorities to ensure the safety of our customers and we’d like to thank everyone for the patience they have shown”.

The area served by Electricity North West (ENW) was affected by all three of the Christmas storms. The network company had to restore power to 3,000 customers following high winds from storm Frank last week. 26,000 customers were also left without power in Lancashire and Greater Manchester after flooding after Storm Eva hit on Christmas Eve.

ENW was also significantly affected at the beginning of December by storm Desmond when it had to reconnect 55,000 homes in Lancashire as the main substation in the area had to be repaired, and a further 13,000 homes in Cumbria. ENW was supported in its efforts following storm Desmond by generators and engineers donated under the NEWSAC agreements.

Northern Powergrid also had to reconnect a total of 102,500 homes after storm Desmond and Eva, but despite making preparations was largely unaffected by storm Frank.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) said distribution network operators (DNO) should be able to avoid bearing the brunt of the cost of storm damage following storm Desmond earlier this month through their business interruption insurance cover.