Utility Week

Community Anyone for coffee? Each technological revolution makes our lives a bit easier and dilutes the need for human labour. In fact, AI could almost remove the need for us to do anything. So how come our lives get progressively busier? Disconnector ponders thus on learning that IBM has filed a patent for an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of dropping off a cup of coffee to someone before they even ask for one. The drone would use sensors to determine when someone wants a drink, by looking for specific hand gestures or by assessing their "pre-deter- mined cognitive state". Given that the average city- dweller is likely to be closer to a coffee shop than a rat, Discon- nector wonders how busy you have to be that you don't have time to grab a cup of coffee. And why stop at coffee? Different drones could be armed with snacks, umbrellas or a warm pullover, to cover every eventuality. Maybe in the future we won't go anywhere unless accompanied by a swarm of drones. It's hardly Blade Runner but it's dystopian in its own way. As for the great man, Dis- connector would need only one drone, and it would be armed with a stiff drink. Hard to swallow In the world of celebrity endorsements, they don't come much more heavyweight than Will Smith, the American TV and film star who cut his chops as The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and has never looked back. Last week he was doing press in the UK to promote the launch of Just Water, which will roll out first on the shelves of Boots. To this end the A-lister could be seen playing the part of a Boots shop floor worker, stacking the shelves with Just Water and gambolling around as the amiable superstar he is. If you're wondering how Just Water could afford his ser- vices, it's because the company is owned by his 18-year-old son Jaden, whose mission in life is, apparently, to bring "ethically sourced, 100% spring water" to the masses. Regular readers will know that the great man (Disconnector, not Smith) is no fan of bottled water. Water is water, and all that matters is whether it's safe to drink. Which makes the "100% spring water" tagline intriguing. Is the implication that other spring waters are adulterated by… what? Non-spring water? The word "ethics" is also curious when applied to water. What would unethically sourced water be? The only ethics of water that Discon- nector is aware of is that great swathes of humanity have no ready access to it. In the UK we have such easy access to it we're prepared to pay £1.29 for 500ml of the stuff in Boots because it's in a recyclable paper bottle. An even greener alternative that generates no plastic waste at all might be to use a mug – under a tap. Let's talk about me Talking about bottled water and shameless self-promotion, Disconnector was much taken with the tale of the mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, who was ridiculed aer he appar- ently forgot to change accounts before praising himself on social media. Ravi Bhalla appeared to comment positively on a post about himself distributing water to local residents and was duly taken to task by citi- zens obviously more savvy with social media than he was. Disconnector wonders why, in the age of Donald Trump, any politician feels the need to be coy about singing their own praises. For the record, Bhalla's brother took the blame for the faux pas, saying he was using the mayor's computer at the time. Disconnector Publishing director, Utilities: Ellen Bennett, t: 01342 332084, e: ellenbennett@fav-house.com; Acting editor: Suzanne Heneghan, t: 01342 332106, e: suzanneheneghan@fav-house.com Acting content director: Denise Chevin, 01342 332087, denisechevin@fav-house.com; Deputy editor: Jane Gray (maternity leave); Features editor: Lois Vallely, t: 01342 332080, e: loisvallely@fav-house.com; News editor: Katey Pigden, t: 01342 332082, e: kateypigden@ fav-house.com; Content editor: Alice Cooke, t: 01342 332102, e: alicecooke@fav-house.com; Energy correspondent: Tom Grimwood, t: 01342 332061, e: tomgrimwood@fav-house.com; Policy correspondent: David Blackman, e: davidblackman@fav-house.com; Reporter: Adam John, t: 01342 332069, e: adamjohn@fav-house.com; Business development manager: Ben Hammond, e: benhammond@fav-house.com. t: 01342 332116; Business development executive: Sarah Wood, e: sarahwood@ fav-house.com. t: 01342 332117 Conference sponsorship manager: Sophie Abbott, t: 01342 332062, e: sophieabbott@ fav-house.com; General enquiries: 01342 332000; Membership enquiries: Peter Bissell, t: 01342 332057, e: peterbissell@fav-house.com. ISSN: 1356-5532. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. 2,500 Average circulation Jan–Dec 2017 Membership subscriptions: UK £769+VAT per year. Overseas £781 per year. Contact Peter Bissell on: 01342 332057 Utility Week is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK's magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors' Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint please contact the publishing director, Ellen Bennett, at ellenbennett@fav-house.com. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors' Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk UTILITY WEEK | 7TH - 13TH SEPTEMBER 2018 | 31 Aaron Burton @AaronBH2O High ambition on #waterefficiency from @SouthernWater "Target 100… we're aiming to reduce average consumption to 100 litres per person per day by 2040. This will mean we can safeguard water for future generations" Chris Corrigan @ChrisCorrigan3 A key test for water company #pr19 plans is how the catchments which provide our water will be better managed CCWater @WaterWatchdog Today is not the end of the #PR19 process and there's still time for companies to adjust their plans. We'll be pressing #water companies and the regulator to make changes to reflect #customer priorities Jonathon Porritt @jonathonporritt It's been clear for a long time that this Government is hostile to the future of small scale solar in the UK. But even I am astonished at its latest proposals, that would, in effect, kill it stone dead. Alan Whitehead @alanwhiteheadmp Government continue to abuse #solar #energy sector with cliff edge cuts. We will see job losses RenewableUK @RenewableUK After a record year for onshore wind in the UK in 2017, billions of pounds of investment in local economies across the UK is at risk as new onshore wind is excluded from the energy market. Christina Bu @ChristinaBu_ We're at 4 million electric vehicles! It took: ~20 years to reach 1 million 18 months to reach 2 million 8 months to reach 3 million and 6 months to get to 4 million Looking forward to see how fast we can get to 5 million! William Marchant @richonlyinname Haven't really commented on the SSE/ npower tie up today because it contained few surprises. But I do find it odd the CMA majors on the point that there's no harm cos they don't really compete on SVT. By that logic, there'd be no harm in moving to a Big 1. Nobody competes on SVT. 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