Company strategy

Making more of data to improve capital delivery

Ecotricity to power homes with geothermal energy

Green energy retailer Ecotricity has agreed a deal which will enable the production and sale of geothermal electricity in what it claims is a UK first. The company’s partnership with Geothermal Engineering will see a minimum 3MW of base-load electricity produced by generating steam more than three miles beneath the United Downs site in Cornwall, producing enough electricity to power 10,000 homes every year.

Octopus Energy sees value rise to $2bn with Tokyo Gas investment

Ofwat asked to reflect CMA appeals in charging rules

Anglian, Bristol and Northumbrian have asked the water regulator to extend the charges deadline for 2021/22 to accommodate changes in the CMA's redetermination, which is due to be published in February

Anglian funds 850 Green Bond projects

Anglian has funded 850 environmental projects through its Green Bond scheme that was established in 2017. The company has given an overview of what has been achieved through the scheme and what is coming down the track.

We could all be vulnerable now

Utility Week’s Consumer Vulnerability & Debt conference brought together companies, regulators and stakeholders to discuss how best to support those who need it most – and how Covid has changed the approaches taken. James Wallin discusses some key takeaways.

Weekend press round-up: Centrica faces industrial action in January

In our latest review of sector coverage across the national newspapers, there are reports on a turbulent energy retail market – with Centrica facing strikes and Shell Energy revealing a £32 million loss. However, in a weekend of gloomy news, there was one bright spot, with a new record set for windfarm generation in Great Britain.

What are suppliers really like?

Professor Stephen Littlechild explains why an Overall Customer Satisfaction Score could help energy suppliers establish a reputation more rapidly and allow customers to make better informed decisions.

RIIO2: Is Ofgem finally aligning with government policy?

In its final determinations for gas and transmission networks and methodology for the electricity distribution price control, Ofgem appears to have moved much closer to the government’s vision for net zero. Nicholas Cass-Tansey and Allan Boardman, energy and utilities experts at PA Consulting, give their views.

Hackers steal 400,000 energy customers’ data

Ofwat sets out innovation competition rules on IPRs

With Ofwat's innovation competition set to launch next month the regulator has given further detail on how intellectual property will be treated, how many entries can be submitted, and more.

Suppliers issued with warning over incorrect backbilling

Energy retailers have been issued a warning after various consumer bodies found a number of suppliers are incorrectly charging customers for unbilled usage beyond the 12-month cut off point.

CMA cases informing PR24 approach to engagement

Covid pushes 600,000 more energy customers into debt

There has been a 40 per cent increase in the number of people behind on their energy bills, with 600,000 more currently in debt to their supplier than February. Citizens Advice found that, as of September, 2.1 million energy customers were in arrears, with the average amount owed at £760 for electricity and £605 for gas. A quarter of all energy customers worry they will not be able to pay this winter.

Call waiting times rose following lockdown

Average call waiting times for energy retailers in the period after lockdown increased, with the worst performing supplier coming in at just under 12 minutes. New statistics also show suppliers took more than two working days to responded to a third of emails.