Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | 28TH SEPTEMBER - 4TH OCTOBER 2018 | 3 This week 4 | Seven days 6 | Interview Colin Skellett, chief executive, Wessex Water 9 Policy & Regulation 9 | News Labour: water 'first for renationalisation' 10 | Analysis Can small energy suppliers maintain aggressive discounting? 13 | Market view RIIO2 will focus on the fundamentals of the framework 15 Finance & Investment 15 | News Talks under way for stake in Moorside 16 Operations & Assets 16 | High viz SSEN and Balfour Beatty's Dorenell wind farm extension 19 | Market view IoT devices will soon be crucial to utilities' mission-critical operations 22 | Analysis Efforts to map utility underground infrastructure 25 Customers 25 | News CCWater scolds three firms for complaints 26 | Chief executive's view Mel Karam, Bristol Water 28 | Analysis Latest consumer research into trust and the energy industry 30 Community 31 | Disconnector GAS 10 | Analysis Can small energy suppliers maintain aggressive discounting? WATER 6 | Interview Colin Skellett, chief executive, Wessex Water 9 | News Labour: water 'first for renationalisation' 25 | News CCWater scolds three firms for complaints 26 | Chief executive's view Mel Karam, Bristol Water ELECTRICITY 15 | News Talks under way for stake in Moorside 16 | High viz SSEN and Balfour Beatty's Dorenell wind farm extension ENERGY 13 | Market view RIIO2 will focus on the fundamentals of the framework 19 | Market view IoT devices will soon be crucial to utilities' mission- critical operations 22 | Analysis Efforts to map utility underground infrastructure 28 | Analysis Latest consumer research into trust and the energy industry Renationalisation coming soon? R enationalisation was put firmly back on the agenda at this week's Labour party conference, even if it was forced to wres- tle for airtime with the noisier, bigger beasts of Brexit and the prospect of a general election. Still, many utility chief executives will have been listening closely to the speeches in Liverpool, well aware of the potential impact on their businesses if Labour were to come to power with its vision of putting "the greatest extension of democratic rights" at the heart of its administration. Sector leaders won't have missed that extending that democracy means public ownership of water companies and parts of the energy system. It was a key manifesto pledge for Labour at the last election, and the leadership has now added meat to the bones of its plan. Berating what he called the "scandal of the privatisation of water" with bills climbing 40 per cent in real terms, and £18 billion paid in dividends, the shadow chancellor's announcement that Labour would sack water bosses, advertise their jobs at capped salaries and hand control to regional groups, will have sent a chill through boardrooms. How this all might pan out within energy is less clear. Although there is no sign of a general election yet, there must be a growing realisation that the opposition's programme could quite feasibly become reality. John McDonnell says opinion poll aer opinion poll has shown public support for such a move. But it's certainly a high-risk strat- egy, when water and energy would be competing for funds with other lifeline sectors such as health and housing. And no-one can argue that, since privatisation, water companies have invested around £150 billion aer years of being starved of investment under public ownership. As an industry insider pointed out, it's difficult to imagine anyone wanting to revisit those days. For now, though, as the party political roadshow rolls on, renationalisation – along with every other important domestic policy – looks set to continue to be drowned out by the furore surrounding Brexit. Utility chief executives, however, will be acutely aware that it has not gone away. Suzanne Heneghan, acting editor, suzanneheneghan@fav-house.com Leader Suzanne Heneghan Talend: Sponsored Free Water Case Study: optimising water supplies https://bit.ly/2CEQQpf IFS: Sponsored report: Getting Ahead in the Diversifying Energy Market https://bit.ly/2MXkFkI Unify: Sponsored Free Water Case Study: Transform CX and deliver exceptional omnichannel experiences https://bit.ly/2CEQQpf

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