Finance and investment

Armitt says UK nuclear is on hold until funding model is clear

It is “impossible to see” how new nuclear power stations will be developed in the UK until a framework for financing them is in place, National Infrastructure Sir John Armitt has warned.

United Utilities revenues down 5% due to Covid-19

What to expect from CMA on PR19 appeals

The CMA is due to deliver its initial redetermination of the PR19 business plans from Anglian, Bristol, Northumbrian and Yorkshire imminently. Will it side with Ofwat or the companies on customer engagement, returns and resilience? Utility Week gauges the view of an analyst, legal expert and ratings agency.

EDF proposes 350MW solar farm in Essex

Giant 13MW turbine chosen to power first two phases of Dogger Bank

Natural capital value of SuDS outweighs costs

January will mark two years since sustainable drainage solutions (SuDS) became mandatory in Wales - a move which could soon follow in England. Welsh Water’s director of wastewater Steve Wilson tells Utility Week that during that time SuDS have vastly reduced the use of combined sewer overflows (CSOs), increased biodiversity and saved hundreds of properties from flooding.

South West shares outperformance payments with billpayers

South West Water customers will be offered £20 in credit to their bill or as a share in parent company Pennon. Outperformance payments earned by South West in AMP6 will be distributed among billpayers as part of the WaterShare+ scheme

Green Finance Institute launches Zero Carbon Heating Taskforce

Smart Metering Systems set to hit pre-Covid installation levels

Smart Metering Systems (SMS), which manages 1.3 million meters across the country, has said it expects to be back to pre-Covid levels of installations by the end of the month. Utility Week spoke to chief operating officer Tim Mortlock about the impact of Covid and how government can support a renewed push on installations. He also set out the company’s pipeline of carbon reduction assets, including a trial of a smart heating system with a national hotel chain.

Fletcher raises ‘serious concerns’ to PAC

Following a scathing government report on the management of water supplies, Ofwat's chief executive has defended its approach to resilience, bills and investment

Renewable investment firm buys demand-side response pioneer Flexitricity

Ofgem confirms ROC shortfall for 2019/20

Ofgem has revealed there is a shortfall of renewables obligation certificates (ROC), after suppliers failed to meet their entire obligation for the 2019/20 year. The regulator has said however that initial, unverified figures suggest the outstanding obligation value as of 1 September was less than at the equivalent point in time last year.

Why scale is the key to weathering a stormy market

For Paul Richards, chief executive of Clydebank-based Together Energy, struggling Bristol Energy presented an opportunity for his business to get the scale needed to weather a volatile marketplace. Richards tells Utility Week more about his recent acquisition and why offering opportunities to some of the poorest households in Scotland comes with challenges for his company's customer service.

Worst of Covid impact ‘yet to come’ for utilities sector

Utilities must take urgent action now to help customers avoid escalating debt or face a crisis this winter. This is according to Baringa Partners, which has investigated the potential impact of coronavirus on the sector over the coming months and concluded companies face a three-fold increase in typical bad debt charge write-offs.

Networks defer £39m of charges as part of Covid support

Ofgem has revealed that around £39 million of network charges had been deferred as of the end of August. Under the schemes announced earlier this year energy networks were to defer up to £350 million of charges as a last resort for struggling suppliers and shippers.