News

Thames: Our assets need £20bn upgrade

The cost of upgrading and future-proofing Thames Water’s ageing assets would be almost £20 billion, the company has revealed. To tackle the most pressing issues, Thames has proposed spending £4.7 billion on its assets in the five years to 2030. The figures are revealed within Thames’ PR24 business plan which it made public on 5 October, three days later than Ofwat’s submission deadline.

Sunak scrapped insulation targets to avoid landlord exodus

SP Energy Networks signs two-year flexibility deal with Piclo

Water-only complaints jump 66% after extreme weather

The number of complaints about water-only companies rose 66% year-on-year following supply interruptions during extreme weather. Although billing disputes dominated the causes of grievances, water watchdog CCW said environmental factors such as the hot, dry summer and freeze-thaw in 2022 triggered an influx of customer complaints when water supplies were affected. South East was named as the most complained about water-only company with disputes related to the freeze thaw, and how subsequent compensation claims were dealt, leading to a surge in customer contacts. 

Ovo CEO: Waste of time to debate hydrogen heating

Rees-Mogg slams net zero target as ‘idiotic tokenism’

Jacob Rees-Mogg has slammed the government’s 2050 net zero emissions target as “idiotic” and “pure tokenism”. The former energy secretary's comments come following Rishi Sunak's recent speech in which he recommitted to the 2050 target, despite rowing back on several interim milestones.

Water firms claim PR24 equity returns will put off investors

Data institution mooted to manage smart meter information

PR24: Smart metering hits mainstream

Storm overflow spend to top £9bn over PR24

Wastewater companies have set out their investment plans to tackle storm overflows during the PR24 period. The total investment will top £9 billion with several companies expecting to beat government targets. United Utilities (UU) and Yorkshire Water will make the largest investments in PR24 at £3.1 billion and £1.9 billion respectively due to UU having more combined sewers than most other water companies, coupled with higher-than-average rainfall.

Call to allow government to block forced PPMs

Fuel poverty campaigners have called on the government to take a hands-on approach to forced prepayment meter (PPM) installations. National Energy Action (NEA) calls for the energy secretary to have direct oversight of forced PPM installations with powers to block installs to sit within government instead of the regulator.

Net zero tsar claims Sunak’s speech ‘changes nothing’

Energy sector ‘lacks ambition’ on digital innovation, says techUK leader

Ofgem delays review of wholesale cost allowances in price cap

Potential changes to the way wholesale cost allowances are set within the price cap will not come into force in January as previously slated. Instead, any changes to wholesale cost allowances will now be implemented in April 2024 at the earliest if deemed necessary by Ofgem.  

British Gas extends demand flexibility offering