Company strategy

Utility Week launches Keeping Us Connected

UKPN’s Kellie Dillon and Kelvin Lee: Keeping Us Connected

In the first of what we hope will be many nominations from the sector, we celebrate the ingenuity in the face of adversity of two UK Power Networks (UKPN) employees, who developed and rapidly rolled out a way of helping customers cope under lockdown.

#AskUsAnything: What are the next steps for energy retailers?

How are energy retailers - already facing significant headwinds - ensuring they survive the impacts of coronavirus? And, what are they doing to protect their most vulnerable customers? Our panel of experts, including Good Energy's Juliet Davenport, Audrey Gallacher of Energy UK and Octopus' Greg Jackson - discussed these issues in our latest webinar, now available on-demand.

Identifying hidden vulnerable customers

Even before the coronavirus, understanding which of their customers would come under the broad umbrella of “vulnerable” was a key challenge for utilities companies. Here data specialist Mike Fox looks at ways companies can use their own data to search out difficult-to-identify vulnerabilities.

Centrica, SSE and Uniper join efforts to develop zero-carbon industrial hub in Humber

Coronavirus: 13% of consumers struggle with energy bills

A survey by Citizens Advice found 4 per cent of consumers have already struggled to pay their energy bills while 9 per cent expect to fall behind. The survey also revealed that 50 per cent of pre-payment meter customers are struggling to top up, while 25 per cent say they are or expect to fall behind on energy bill payments.

On the Move: Ovo Energy chair appointed

Former Burberry executive Stacey Cartwright is to head up the Ovo Energy board. Meanwhile, Thames has welcomed a director from Sydney Water, David Black has a new role at Ofwat and Electricity North West has created an HR director position. Utility Week presents a round-up of appointments from across the sector.

Public remain sceptical on low-carbon heating

Utilities companies must focus on the upsides to customers of decarbonisation of heat if they are to overcome a widespread reluctance to act on the issue, an expert has told Utility Week. Energy Systems Catapult has published a survey showing that although there is consensus on the need for climate action, less than half of those polled believed gas central heating was a contributor to climate change and only 2 per cent have switched to a low-carbon alternative. Cost and convenience are seen as the biggest barriers to transition.

Brearley hints at flexibility on RIIO2 timetable

Pure Planet creates entirely digital recruitment process

Bristol to CMA: Ofwat got it wrong

Suppliers are ‘split’ over BEIS coronavirus assistance

More than 5,000 apply for NHS water rebate

Expert View: Remote infrastructure is utilities’ Achilles Heel

Utility assets hide in plain sight - from internet cabinets on every high street to water pumps tucked away behind gates. However, does this visibility mean utilities companies are leaving themselves exceptionally vulnerable? Jean-Phillipe Deby of Genetec discusses.

Davenport: We shouldn’t take a penny more than necessary from government

Good Energy founder Juliet Davenport explains why she continues to view furloughing staff as a “last resort” and insists “this can't just be about saving money for shareholders”. She tells Utility Week how the company is coping with the downturn in the business retail market, which now accounts for 50 per cent of its customer base, and its focus on supporting both the physical and mental wellbeing of its staff.