Company strategy

Contractors warn of AMP7 cost pressures

Leading contractors have aired their concerns about the impact of cost pressures imposed on the water companies for the next price control period. Representatives of Tier 1 contractors told Utility Week of their fears that there could be a knock-on effect on the decarbonisation agenda.

Water company ratings shift on the back of CMA decisions

Credit rating agency S&P has given its vedict on the water companies of England & Wales after taking into account the reactions to the 'toughest determination ever' from Ofwat.

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”.

Does squeeze on contractors threaten resilience drive?

Squaring the circle: Building consumer trust in a time of change

From auto-switching services to heat networks and electric vehicles (EVs), Matthew Vickers, chief executive at the Energy Ombudsman, highlights how the consumer relationship with energy and the energy market is changing. Vickers sets out his guiding principles to handling complaints following a merger or acquisition.

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.

Ofwat confirms inter-company loans will be banned

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.

UKPN makes Best Companies to Work For list six years running

UKPN has been placed tenth in the Top 25 Best Big Companies to Work For list and has also received a Discovering Potential award, reflecting its ongoing commitment to apprenticeships and its school engagement programme.

To catch a thief

Utilities have high hopes for drone use