Company strategy

MPs urged to investigate Scottish Power PPM warrants

Thames ring-fences extra £500k for vulnerability support

Thames is dedicating £500k through its Trust Fund initiative to support financially vulnerable households in London and the Thames Valley. This includes £400k in grants to debt and money advice services across the region and £100k to a household pot that customer service employees can direct billpayers to.

Financing doubts cast over water company business plans

Financing of water company plans for 2025-30 is reliant on huge sums of equity being put forward by investors at a time when returns are squeezed and the sector faces myriad performance challenges. For these reasons attracting the investment needed may be tougher than previous AMPs, analysts have warned.

Weekend press: Hydrogen boiler push to continue despite verdict of UK watchdog

In our latest round-up of national press coverage, the government and sections of UK industry will reportedly continue to back the prospect of using hydrogen for home heating, despite recent warnings against the technology from the National Infrastructure Commission. Elsewhere, concerns are raised about the impact of a lack of port infrastructure on offshore wind, while plans by Labour to incentivise take up of electric vehicles are revealed.

Utility Week Awards 2023 shortlist revealed

Scottish Power granted PPM warrants

Ofgem slams Utilita’s ‘ill-founded’ CMA appeal

Tougher targets and increased investment to weigh on water credit ratings

Customer service standards for retailers tightened

Thames: No dividends coming this decade

Shareholders in Thames Water are unlikely to see a dividend payment before 2030, interim co-chief executive Cathryn Ross has said. The former Ofwat boss also bemoaned a “backwards looking and risk averse” regulatory regime and a lack of co-ordination between the various bodies overseeing the sector.

Wales & West Utilities explores gas and electricity smart links

Wales & West Utilities (WWU) has launched a project to explore how smart links between gas and electricity networks can make better use of renewable energy. The HyVoltage Project is being led by the gas network operator, with National Grid Electricity Distribution as a non-funding partner. It will assess the viability of introducing what WWU calls “flexible vector conversion sites” with integrated smart links between both gas and electricity distribution networks.

PR24: SVT’s past performance key to AMP8

Severn Trent has set out its intention to remain an industry leader across performance commitments in the next asset management period (AMP8) as the cornerstone to its ambitious plan.

Ofwat sets out details of customer service licence condition

PR24: South East facing ‘unprecedented’ network pressure

Market Stabilisation Charge will expire in 2024