Adam John

Unheard energy complaints pose challenge for the sector

Ofgem investigates British Gas over PPM changes

Social tariffs should be issued for vulnerable energy customers

A “social discount” or tariff should be introduced for vulnerable energy customers to improve affordability of bills for the lowest income households. A new report from charity Christians Against Poverty found more than half of pre-payment meter customers it helps show signs of self-disconnection, prompting calls for a number of recommendations to help the vulnerable.

Networks shouldn’t get ‘hysterical’ about impact of EVs on the grid

The disruptions posed by the electrification of the transport sector have been over-estimated by the network operators, industry experts have claimed. A panel convened by Delta-EE discussed how the UK could become a leader in electric vehicles and what lessons there are from other countries.

Pivot Power places order for first batteries in 2GW fleet

SMETS2 smart meters hit 4 million milestone

Centrica-owned British Gas installed the 4 millionth second-generation smart meter (SMETS2) in Kent. Last month a record 138 million messages were sent between SMETS2 meters.

Hybrid heating trial finds consumers willing to replace gas boiler with heat pump

Four out of the five participants in a hybrid heating trial conducted by the Energy Systems Catapult have expressed willingness to remove their gas boiler and rely entirely on a heat pump if they could buy heat as a service. They said fixing the costs of their heating would give them the confidence to leave their heating on for the longer periods of time a heat pump would need to warm their home.

Ofgem appoints new non-executive director

The new appointment has held senior executive finance and operational positions in global technology companies and financial services. An announcement of another non-executive director with a digital transformation background is expected to be made “in due course”.

Council-owned Victory Energy finally has licences stripped

Portsmouth Council’s energy supplier will finally have its supply licences revoked more than a year since it was scrapped at a cost of at least £2.5 million.

Utilities sector ‘at risk from poaching’ under new immigration rules

The government's tough stance on immigration is bound to raise questions across the sector about a possible recruitment gap. But, should the greater concern be around retention of talent, in the face of other industries looking to utilities to address their own shortages? Adam John takes a closer look at how utilities and the contractors community anticipate the new post-Brexit immigration rules could affect the industry.