Water

Northumbrian and O2 develop immersive AR underground asset tool

Weekend press round-up: UK firms accused of buying ‘dirty REGOs’ from Eastern Europe

In the papers this weekend there were reports that UK energy providers are sourcing cheap green energy certificates from Lithuania, that Katie Bickerstaffe is leaving her role as chair of SSE Energy Services "within weeks" and that Octopus Energy is looking to expand to Scandinavian and Asian markets.

New investment promised for NI Water

Concentrate on the quality

Energy lags behind other utilities for customer satisfaction

Utility sector performance scorecards have been published by the UK Regulators Network. While energy lagged behind all other sectors, water was only marginally better.

Investor confidence remains high under tough regulation

The tough stance adopted by Ofwat has challenged the water sector and reassured its investors, according to S&P Global Ratings. Despite difficult times ahead and lower ratings, water remains a sound longer-term investment, thanks in part to the firm regulatory framework the companies operate in, a senior director told Utility Week.

Everything has changed – yet nothing has changed

Utility companies cannot allow themselves to become complacent about their commitments to society and the environment, despite the sudden certainty provided by the general election. Sustainability First director, Sharon Darcy, sets out the ways in which the sector can deliver on fairness and green pledges and how the regulatory regime can align to support this.

A peaceful new year to you all… for now

Utility Week magazine editor, Suzanne Heneghan, looks at what is likely to be in store for the sector in 2020 - including an overhaul of the policy machine, the next steps on the net-zero journey and further debate over the evolution of the grid.

On the Move – Yu Group appoints new chairman; Good Energy announces CFO

A number of senior appointments have been announced by two utility companies. Yu Group has appointed a new chairman while Good Energy brings in a new chief financial officer.

Fitch: Ofwat has moved positively on PR19 but pressures remain

A senior director at ratings agency, Fitch, has said Ofwat’s final determinations (FD) are an example of the regulator listening to the sector. Maria Fassakhova told Utility Week that while significant pressures remained on water companies, she did not expect many to take the risk of appealing to the CMA.

Technological innovations to watch in 2020

What digital strategies are likely to drive the sector forward over the next 12 months? Graeme Wright, chief digital officer for utilities at Fujitsu UK, gives his top six predictions.

Thames: 2020 must be the year of the water label

Severn Trent launches community fund

Webinar download: Improving the digital experience for priority groups

Advice for helping utility customers improve the digital experience for vulnerable customers is available in a Utility Week webinar – now available to download.

Water retailers warned complaints still too high