Regulation

Relief for local energy suppliers ‘risks distorting market’

Reforming the electricity generation licensing system to make it easier to set up grassroots suppliers could have “unintended consequences” and ultimately end up costing consumers more, energy minister Kwasi Kwarteng has warned.

Fletcher: Nature-based solutions should be default in PR24 plans

Where is Ofgem’s ED2 net-zero strategy?

Ofgem’s proposals for the RIIO ED2 price controls set out how DNOs will be incentivised to deliver in areas such as consumer vulnerability and large connections. Sustainability First’s Judith Ward asks why the same approach has not been taken on decarbonisation. Without clear signals there is a real risk of only incremental steps towards net zero rather than the step change that is needed, she argues.

Vulnerable customers must be put ‘at the heart’ of DSO transition

Scottish water regulator says bills must go up to futureproof systems

Scottish residents are set to see their water bills increase by an average £9 per year between 2021 and 2027 as the regulator insisted that investment was needed now to safeguard water quality, reliability and the 2040 net zero target.

Ofgem reveals final network deferral charges

Ofgem has revealed the final amount of charges that have been deferred by network companies over a three-month period in response to Covid-19. In June three schemes were announced which allowed networks to put off up to £350 million worth of charges relating to gas transportation, electricity distribution and electricity transmission as a last resort. The schemes have now closed.

Nolan: Ofgem needs government guidance ahead of ED2

Ofgem’s former chief executive has said the regulator needs statutory guidance on how its core objectives should reflect the net-zero journey before it assesses DNOs’ business plans for the next five years. Speaking to Utility Week, Dermot Nolan also expressed regrets about Ofgem’s approach to the energy retail market and why it was “painful” to see what had happened to the price cap.

Groundhog Day for the energy sector

Just days after Ofgem revealed the supplier owed £8.7 million in renewables obligations (RO) and feed-in-tariff payments, Tonik Energy was no more - by far the largest supplier to exit the market in 2020. But, the tale of a business failure days after the RO bills are announced is becoming a familiar one. Utility Week examines how it all went wrong - and who will pick up the pieces.

The UK’s infrastructure must evolve to meet the wind revolution

Boris Johnson’s pledge to become the “Saudi Arabia” of wind is a strong sign of intent but now action is needed turn this promise into reality. This will require whole system changes, dynamic collaboration between sectors and countries and regulatory evolution to ensure our infrastructure base is up to the transition, says Burns & McDonnell managing director, Jonathan Chapman.

SSE CEO: Is this finally a watershed moment for the UK’s net zero ambition?

Ofgem and Ofwat to explore regulation for innovation at Utility Week Live Online

Tonik Energy becomes third supplier of 2020 to cease trading

PR19 – Reasons to be cheerful for energy network CEOs?

In her latest exclusive column for Utility Week members, former Ofgem executive Maxine Frerk gives her view on the CMA appeals in the water sector. She examines what impact this is likely to have on RIIO2 and highlights areas of the CMA’s response that energy networks may want to study.

CMA locks horns with Ofwat on leakage

Ofgem adds storage definition to generation license