Water

Thames fined for Tideway workers’ injuries

Looking at the letter of the law around nationalisation

Should Labour gain a majority in the general election and the opportunity to put its nationalisation plans into practice, what would the legal constraints be on the reforms, and what could it mean for investors? Andrew Lidbetter, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP gives his view.

Utility Week Awards 2019 winners announced

Octopus Energy has been unveiled as Utility of the Year at the industry’s annual awards ceremony. The company also won the inaugural Disruptor category at the Utility Week Awards 2019, held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Other multiple winners on the night included UK Power Networks, Yorkshire and Thames Water

The value of waste

Water companies are innovating to find efficiencies in every drop of water. Severn Trent has launched a test-bed to pump ideas into its wastewater treatment and look at sewage as a valuable asset

McDonnell: ‘Renationalisation to start in first 100 days of Labour government’

Labour’s shadow chancellor has outlined more details of the party’s plan to bring water and energy back into public hands. Meanwhile, a report by a free market thinktank has torn apart Labour’s policy.

Public sector sees energy and water as low priority for efficiency

A survey has shown that public sector employers are failing to focus on their energy and water usage as key efficiency goals.

Weekend press round-up: Long Bailey says utility bosses must listen

This weekend Labour's business secretary admitted energy firms will be unhappy with Labour's renationalisation plans, but said they'll understand. Meanwhile, large energy suppliers have topped the best-buy lists as smaller rivals struggle and Drax has set out its long-term strategy.

All bets are off for PR19

Publicly-owned water sector ‘makes economic, social and environmental sense’

Water has become the poster child for Labour’s renationalisation plans so it is little surprise that industry figures have taken a unanimously critical line. However, sector veteran Jacob Tompkins, believes this defence of privatisation has gone too far and that the sector should instead focus on why Labour’s plans have caught the public mood.

Would nationalisation really be ‘fiscally neutral’?

Yeo: Hung parliament would be best outcome for utilities

The former Conservative energy supremo takes issue with Labour’s plans for the utilities sector (while agreeing with its stance on National Grid) but is also concerned that his own party’s policies are lacking in detail and risk watering down environmental regulation.

On the Move: Mottram joins Centrica board

Utility Week rounds up the latest appointments from across the sector.

UW Manifesto: The question of consumer vulnerability

As part of our Election 2019 manifesto, we are calling for more collaboration from industry and more action from government to address the issue of vulnerability. In some areas of the industry the current arrangements are simply not serving those in need of the most support. From a pan-utilities supplier to better signposting on switching websites, Adam John discusses the key issues and how the next government may tackle this all-important issue.

Anglian alters totex to meet PR19 challenges

Have you got the D-MeX factor?