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Living Lab reopens for trials with new integration platform

Living Lab reopens for trials with new integration platform

The Energy Systems Catapult has reopened it’s Living Lab for trials after launching a new digital integration platform for the 100 connected homes. It said the introduction of the new software means the lab is now “truly open, interoperable and scalable".

5 years ago

Gridserve partners with high street retailers as first ‘Electric Forecourt’ nears completion

5 years ago

37% of energy complaints were live for over a month in Q2

Almost two fifths of complaints submitted to energy companies have been live for more than one month, Ofgem’s latest consumer perception survey has found. The report, commissioned by both the regulator and Citizens Advice, also reveals consumer satisfaction in the complaints handling process took a dip in Q2 2020.

5 years ago

Why scale is the key to weathering a stormy market

For Paul Richards, chief executive of Clydebank-based Together Energy, struggling Bristol Energy presented an opportunity for his business to get the scale needed to weather a volatile marketplace. Richards tells Utility Week more about his recent acquisition and why offering opportunities to some of the poorest households in Scotland comes with challenges for his company's customer service.

5 years ago

What can utilities learn from the insurance sector about productivity?

Insurance giant RSA knows what it’s like to feel the drag of legacy systems on its cost base and productivity potential. But a new approach to deploying work in its back office and optimising the capabilities of its employees has unlocked breakthroughs in efficiency and effectiveness.

5 years ago

Worst of Covid impact ‘yet to come’ for utilities sector

Utilities must take urgent action now to help customers avoid escalating debt or face a crisis this winter. This is according to Baringa Partners, which has investigated the potential impact of coronavirus on the sector over the coming months and concluded companies face a three-fold increase in typical bad debt charge write-offs.

5 years ago

Push for diversity constrained by a lack of data

5 years ago

Faversham House launches Utility Week Live Online, November 24-26 2020

5 years ago

Together acquires Bristol Energy for £14m

Clydebank-based challenger brand Together Energy has acquired the residential customers and brand of Bristol Energy. Bristol City Council, which founded the supplier in 2015, announced earlier this year it would be selling the company and last month Yu Group acquired the council-backed retailer’s business portfolio.

5 years ago

Clear north/south divide in energy switching

Data taken over a 20-year period shows a clear north/south divide between the households most likely to switch energy provider. The research, from Uswitch, shows eight northern towns and cities make up the top ten switching areas per 1,000 population.

5 years ago

SMETS2 installations hit 5m mark

5 years ago

Octopus appointed as SoLR for Effortless Energy customers

Octopus Energy has been appointed as the supplier of last resort for the customers of Effortless Energy which recently became the second supplier to cease trading in 2020 and the first since the pandemic hit. Effortless was set up by Andrew and Melanie Burns after the couple became “frustrated and confused” by the deals being offered by incumbent suppliers.

5 years ago

Centrica buys Robin Hood Energy customers

Centrica has acquired struggling council-backed energy supplier Robin Hood's customer base for an undisclosed fee. The deal, which is set to complete on 16 September, will mean 230 staff at Robin Hood being made redundant. It will see 112,000 domestic customers and 2,600 businesses move across to British Gas over the next few months.

5 years ago

Getting back to work: An update on furlough

The major energy suppliers have told Utility Week that most of the 11,000 workers furloughed during the lockdown have now been brought back. However, industry observers have warned that with the government adamant furlough will not return and suppliers set to face a financial squeeze in the winter, job cuts could be on the horizon.

5 years ago

Ovo Energy appoints new CEO

Ovo has announced the appointment of a new chief executive of Ovo Energy, as well as a new director of corporate affairs.

5 years ago

Ofgem proposes extending restricted meter protections

Ofgem is proposing to extend protections for customers on certain types of restricted meters to 2025, in line with the updated timeframe for the smart meter rollout. Around 4 million customers in Great Britain have a restricted, or ‘profile class two’ (PC2), meters. They allow customers to be charged for electricity at different rates, depending on the time of day they use their energy.

5 years ago

Effortless Energy becomes second supplier of 2020 to fail

Effortless Energy (trading as Go Effortless Energy) has become the second supplier to fail in 2020, and the first since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Utility Week recently revealed that the Stoke-based supplier was looking to exit the market, having previously entered level two credit default with code administrators Elexon.

5 years ago

Ofgem urged to expedite prepayment safeguards as winter lockdown looms

5 years ago

Charities brand Centrica’s treatment of vulnerable ‘unacceptable’

5 years ago

Smart meter installations down 86% over second quarter

5 years ago

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