Environment

South East Water to impose hosepipe ban

Weekend press round-up: Octopus seeks £1bn of government funding for Bulb takeover

In the latest round-up of the weekend’s papers, Octopus Energy seeks £1 billion of government funding as part of its takeover offer for Bulb and National Infrastructure Commission chair Sir John Armitt calls for compulsory water metering by the end of the decade to head off droughts.

Southern imposes first hosepipe ban in a decade

EA convenes drought group as UK faces more dry weather

Heatwave sees ‘ferocious’ demand for water

Weekend Press: Mordaunt pledges ‘millions’ of green jobs

Discussions of how the next potential leader of the Conservative Party will address the energy crisis and net zero dominate news in our weekly round-up of the stories from the weekend. Water firms are criticised for asking customers to use water carefully as the country braces for the hottest day of the year.

Six water companies lose stars in latest environmental rating

Weekend press round-up: £15bn takeover bid for UK Power Networks collapses

In the Utility Week’s latest round-up of the weekend papers, a £15 billion takeover bid for UK Power Networks collapses after the owner raises the price at the last minute, and the government is criticised for asking vulnerable households to help foot the bill for building new nuclear plants whilst letting industrial energy users “off the hook”.

Ofwat insists customers can’t subsidise multi-sector reservoirs

Anglian Water unveils large-scale wetlands programme

MPs attack water bosses’ bonuses

EA calls for multi-sector collaboration on water resources planning

Leakage repair needs innovation focus

Sidelining smart meters in PR24 would be ‘missed opportunity’

Not including smart water meters in PR24 business plans would represent a “missed opportunity” to reduce consumption and leakage, according to Arqiva. Peter Baker, director of smart utilities networks at the telecommunications company, said smart meters have already been shown to be effective at identifying leaks and encouraging consumers to lower their water usage, adding: "It doesn’t all have to be policy and mandates – the cost and consumption benefits are clear to be seen.”

SES Water boss: Affordability can’t dominate all that we do