James Wallin

So Energy enters PPA market

Framework to measure sector diversity launched

Energy & Utility Skills has launched an inclusion framework to paint a picture of diversity across the utilities sector. It comes after concern was raised that many utilities companies do not ask their employees for information on their ethnicity, meaning there is little data on which to base any moves to make the sector more diverse.

Weekend press round-up: UK plans to bring forward ban on fossil fuel vehicles to 2030

In our latest review of sector coverage across the national newspapers, there is speculation that Boris Johnson is poised to accelerate the shift to electric vehicles. There is also coverage of a controversial code modification by SSEN that would give networks emergency powers to use a household’s smart meter to switch off their supply. Meanwhile, new figures have revealed that water companies pumped raw sewage into rivers nearly 300,000 times last year.

Gas must not be sidelined in the net-zero debate

As part of our Build Back Better series, Utility Week speaks to Matt Hindle, head of gas at the Energy Networks Association. He predicts the relatively low profile of gas networks in the public debate around decarbonisation is about to change as the country begins to confront the conundrum of eradicating emissions from home heating.

Energy losses ‘costing consumers £3.3bn a year’

Losses in the energy system last year had a “societal cost” of £1.5 billion, with the amount of billable energy failing to reach its intended destination calculated at more than double that.

One million smart meter installs so far in 2020

The smart meter rollout showed continued signs of resurgence in August but is still lagging on last year’s figures.

Smart Metering Systems set to hit pre-Covid installation levels

Smart Metering Systems (SMS), which manages 1.3 million meters across the country, has said it expects to be back to pre-Covid levels of installations by the end of the month. Utility Week spoke to chief operating officer Tim Mortlock about the impact of Covid and how government can support a renewed push on installations. He also set out the company’s pipeline of carbon reduction assets, including a trial of a smart heating system with a national hotel chain.

Vaughan to depart Eon as part of restructure

Switching lull in August ‘unexpected’

Weekend press round-up: Government orders review of regulators

In our latest review of sector coverage across the national newspapers, an MP who called for the abolition of Ofgem and Ofwat has been appointed to lead a review of Britain's competition laws. There is also speculation on the contents of the energy white paper, ahead of a flagship speech on the net zero pathway by Boris Johnson.