Company strategy

Sibling rivalry: How Octopus differentiates its white labels

Although both are white labels of Octopus, M&S and Co-Op Energy manage to outperform their parent company on customer service rankings. Utility Week asked Octopus Energy’s Rebecca Dibb-Simkin why this is, and what approach the company has taken to integrating two household brands into a disruptor model.

Anglian sets out £630m investment for 2021

Anglian has set out how it will spend £630 million from 2021/22 across its region with a focus on leakage, strategic infrastructure projects and protecting waterways including chalk streams.

Study suggests £720m cost to plug water poverty gap

The cost to plug the "water poverty gap" could be up to £720 million, according to a report commissioned by Water UK. It shows the number of people living in water poverty in England and Wales is greater than previously calculated as of 2019/20, with more than 4 million households struggling to pay their bills.

Good Energy appoints new CEO

Good Energy has announced the appointment of Nigel Pocklington, former chief commercial officer of Moneysupermarket Group, as its new chief executive. The disruptor brand announced in February that its founder and chief executive Juliet Davenport was to step down after 20 years.

March sees highest ever demand for plug-in vehicles

More plug-in vehicles were registered in March than ever before, the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show. Pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles took a combined market share of 14 per cent, up from just over 7 per cent per cent last year as the number of models available to customers increased from 72 to 116. Meanwhile, Octopus Electric Vehicles has announced the launch of a new leasing service which offers a salary sacrifice scheme to employees.

Fighting an invisible enemy: consumer debt and utilities

CMA panel for RIIO2 appeals announced

Bristol Water workers to strike

The four pillars of megaproject management

One third of energy sector exposed to LGBTQ+ discrimination

A survey of energy industry employees has found that 35 per cent have witnessed or experienced discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation in the last five years.

Webinar: Transforming CX in utilities – personalisation at speed 

New RO mutualisation arrangements come into force

New arrangements to link the renewables obligation (RO) mutualisation threshold to the annual cost of the scheme have come into effect. Mutualisation has long been a source of contention in the energy sector, with compliant suppliers obliged to pick up the shortfall when others do not pay. BEIS is also considering whether changes need to be made to the way the mutualisation amount is calculated.

So Energy falls out of Citizens Advice top 10

Half of Brits confused over green tariffs

‘We’re seeing a new normal for business energy consumption’

Yu Group chief executive Bobby Kalar has said he is not worried at the prospect of reduced energy consumption from business consumers, adding that the company is focusing on growth to mitigate this. Kalar was speaking to Utility Week following the publication of his company’s financial results which revealed the impact Covid has had on the business.