News

Bill Gates company snubbed as six firms make SMR shortlist

Water firms seek £96bn across AMP8

Weekend press round-up: Bills set to rise as water companies turn on spending taps

In our latest review of sector coverage in the national media, water companies are set to invest £90 billion through their combined business plans for 2025-2030 but there are questions over whether they can deliver on their plans. Meanwhile, there are warnings that energy bills remain unaffordable despite a cut in the price cap and concern that consumers will still need help to meet the costs of installing a heat pump.

SVT ‘really confident’ Ofwat will approve £13bn spend

Severn Trent has told investors it is confident the "vast majority" of its spending plans for 2025-2030 will be approved, after asking for a doubling in total expenditure compared to the current price control. Meanwhile chief executive Liz Garfield promised growth in regulatory capital value “beyond anything people might have been expecting” for PR24.

Electricity consumption falls to non-lockdown record low

British Gas joins call for smart meter mandate

Water efficiency labels get rubber stamp

Switching guarantee signatories hit targets for first time

All companies signed up to the Energy Switch Guarantee (ESG) have hit their targets for the first time since the scheme was updated last year. The ESG is a series of commitments by retailers to hit certain standards and targets around the switching process, such as ensuring switches are completed within five working days or less. There are currently seven suppliers signed up to the guarantee - EDF, Eon, Octopus, Outfox the Market, Ovo, Shell Energy and So Energy.

Severn Trent first to reveal PR24 plan

In the first signal of how water companies are approaching investment plans for 2025-2030, Severn Trent has indicated it expects totex to more than double compared to the first half of the decade. The company gave a summary of its plans as it announced it is seeking £1 billion equity to fund a programme of river improvements, resilience and service. It has also revealed indicative views on bill rises and key performance commitments.

EDF axes ‘regressive’ standing charges for vulnerable

Social tariff consultation urgently needed

Public does not link green policies to cost of living crisis

The general public does not associate green policies with fuelling the cost of living crisis, research by thinktank Onward has found. The thinktank’s report Hotting Up follows last week’s speech by Rishi Sunak in which the prime minister watered down a number key government climate change commitments in order to ease cost of living pressures on households. However, polling carried out for the report indicates that the public does not link the two.

Hydrogen to play niche role in home heating, says CCC

On the move: Ex-UU finance director joins Northumbrian

SSE launches support fund for struggling businesses