Utility Week - Latest News

UK will support carbon capture and storage, says Davey

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) remains a key part of the future energy mix, energy secretary Ed Davey said today.

Power restored to homes after army helicopter hits UK Power Network's line in Suffolk

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

UK Power Networks has restored power to all remaining off supply properties after a Ministry of Defence helicopter struck power lines last night and was forced to land south of Ipswich in Suffolk. Nobody was injured.

SSE goes for tariff simplification - with optional extras

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

SSE has made major changes its retail offering, reducing its energy products range to two standard and two fixed options based on a standing charge and a unit charge. However, it has left room for more variation by allowing customers to choose optional add-ons.

Vattenfall installs last 5MW turbine at Ormonde offshore wind farm

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The last 5MW wind turbine was installed at the 150MW Ormonde offshore wind farm, Swedish utility Vattenfall said today.

Mandatory auctions could be liquidity solution by next year

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ofgem is proposing mandatory auctions of wholesale power so that independent energy suppliers get access to the kind of products that they need to manage risk and try to compete with the ex-monopoly energy companies. However, the regulator has said nothing will happen until 2013.

Fuel tax twist to nuclear row

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A legal battle over a tax on uranium and plutonium that was put in place last year to fund Germany's transition away from nuclear power and fossil fuels to renewable energy is the latest twist in the country's nuclear saga, says David Stellfox

Wales plans single environment body

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Welsh Government has confirmed it is developing a water strategy with which it intends to settle the future direction of water policy and the delivery of water services.
A statement is expected later this year as the administration firms up plans to establish a single body to replace the...

Green Deal lock-out for small suppliers

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Energy regulator Ofgem has warned that the government's Green Deal energy efficiency scheme, as drafted, could block competition in the market.

Flood of protests at super sewer

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

More than 5,000 individuals and organisations have lodged their views on the controversial Thames Tideway Tunnel project.

Distributors 'must engage more'

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Power distribution companies need to up their game in dealing with consumers during the next period of price controls, according to energy regulator Ofgem.

Generators celebrate UoS exemptions win

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Generators connected to the distribution network have won a lengthy tussle with Ofgem for exemptions from new charging rules they viewed as unfair.

Choice of Ofto 'must be impartial'

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Under the new enduring offshore transmission regime, neither the national transmission system operator nor offshore wind developers should play a part in evaluating tenders by third parties to build links.
That is the view of Transmission Capital Partners (TCP), the consortium that has won ...

Big PV target despite FIT falls

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Climate change minister Greg Barker raised eyebrows last week when he announced a target of 22GW of new photovoltaics (PV) by 2020. As of 14 February there was a total PV installed capacity of 783MW, according to Ofgem's feed-in tariff (FIT) register.

Exchanges raided by Commission

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The European Commission has made unannounced inspections at power exchanges in several countries. The Commission said it was concerned that the exchanges may have violated anti-trust rules and the inspections were a preliminary step in investigations. It did not mean the companies were guilty of ...

Cost vs environment dilemma

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The balance between protecting the environment and customers' pockets is likely to be a key issue for the upcoming Parliamentary Water White Paper inquiry hearings.

Cashless metal dealing by May 2013

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The government hopes to have measures to make scrap metal dealing a cashless business by April or May next year, Lord Henley, minister of state for crime prevention and anti-social behaviour reduction, told an all-party parliamentary group on combating metal theft last week.
Tony Glover, hea...

Wessex Water: shift the default on metering

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Water meters should automatically be installed when people move house, Wessex Water's head of policy and regulation told MPs yesterday.

Electricity will not usurp gas for heating

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Gas will remain part of the UK's energy mix despite increased use of electricity for domestic heating, according to David Clarke, chief executive of the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI).

Ofwat puts efficiency under the spotlight

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ofwat is opening up a debate on how best to promote efficiency and innovation in water supply.

Southern Water loses dispute over connections charge

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ofwat has said that Southern Water must pay a refund to a property developer in Kent after it overcharged the developer for installing water connections to new flats.