Election promises to the North must be kept

Utility Week magazine editor Suzanne Heneghan reflects on why the new Conservative government must deliver on its campaign pledges to the regions.

As the results of Election 2019 and an historic Tory win sink in, Brexit may be hogging the spotlight but other policy issues are vying for attention too – not least, what next for the North?

Regional growth and devolution ended up becoming a major political football on this campaign trail, with the North of England in particular proving a key battleground.

There was a raft of vote-chasing pledges made about much-needed critical infrastructure investment. And there will be huge pressure on the new administration to deliver.

The regions will play a vital role in Britain’s future prosperity and clean growth. And energy and water companies, and their customers, will be slap bang at the heart of it.

As a result, the utilities sector has already been busy developing key regional projects over several years.

It has created a world-leading renewables economy and skills base via high-performing local ventures in little over a decade; driven ­cutting-edge regional trials and pilot schemes; and forged strong ­public-private sector working partnerships to address both the challenges and opportunities that the constantly shifting landscape presents – including this year’s 2050 net zero target.

It’s the reason why several key industry players are supporting the work of regional bodies, such as the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, in bringing together a range of stakeholders to foster collaboration, attract investment and help accelerate regional economies.

Those championing growth in the regions will be holding politicians to account and expect them to fulfil their promises now the electioneering has faded.

That was certainly the takeaway message from a Northern Powerhouse conference in Manchester last week.

While the election narrative for the North was weighted heavily towards rail – notably building an east-west line linking Leeds and Manchester (effectively creating a Northern Crossrail) – the wider potential impact on utilities of such huge industrial, economic and environmental strategy visions cannot be understated.

Enabling e-mobility infrastructure, distributing clean energy and water resources, and generating the power to service these growing smart cities will all require huge co-ordination and activity from the industry.

As one sector player put it to me this week, net zero may be a national ambition, but it will need to be delivered by the regions.

If utilities want to prove themselves the truly regional companies they believe they are, there’s never been a better time than now to do it.