Utility Week

Community Man the barricades The hamster wheel of British politics is gathering speed, even if it's not taking us anywhere. As this issue goes to press, frenzied speculation was growing ever more… frenzied… about what Theresa May's Plan B would be – because she's already effectively ruled out anything that would amount to a substantive change to The Deal. Various amendments were being cooked up by both Conservative and Labour MPs to try to compel the govern- ment to delay Brexit in the event of No Deal, even though this would effectively propel the country into a fully-fledged constitutional crisis. If parlia- ment passes a bill the govern- ment doesn't want, it can tell the Queen not to sign it. Thus the Queen would be refusing to enact the will of parliament, effectively returning the coun- try to an actual monarchy. The political revolution of Brexit could thus turn into an actual revolution, complete with barricades and all that palaver. We'd have to do with- out the guillotine, of course (too French) but doubtless there's a good British method waiting to be discovered. Why not ask that bloke who runs Wetherspoons? He's been spending a lot of personal dosh pamphleteering the country in the hope of stirring up the mob, so you may as well give him the pitchfork. The only problem with revolutions is trying to control it. The mob may be as likely to march on Wetherspoons as the palace, for although the Daily Mail trumpeted last week that No Deal was the most popular Brexit scenario among the great British public, a poll con- ducted by Sky News found that fully 26 per cent of the same British public assumes that No Deal means staying in the EU. Bog standard When it comes to fancy toilets, the Japanese win hands down, what with programmable lavs with heated seats and jets of water that can be directed elec- tronically to cleanse the most discerning derriere. When it comes to the toilet, Americans tend to be more down to earth, but add a little technology and it's a different story. US sanitaryware company Kohler has just launched the Numi 2.0 Intelligent Toilet, its most advanced intelligent toilet with built-in voice control. Yep, that's right: Alexa in the bog. It costs up to seven grand, comes complete with mood lighting, and offers all the fancy extras you'd expect from lavs of this sort, with the added advantage of voice control. Which may not always be an advantage in house- holds where wayward sib- lings might be willing to shout out voice commands when one of their brothers or sisters is on the loo. In any event, if you bought one you'd have to remember to warn any guests that they have to talk to the loo, and the loo will talk back. The writing's on the wall No-one wants to be caught by surprise when they're caught short, but that's what's hap- pening to shoppers at The Savoy Centre in Glasgow where a newly installed green neon sign greets visitors to the public toilet with the message: "Please don't do coke in the bathroom." Apparently it is part of an art installation designed to give the mall a more "cool" image, although shoppers collared by the local press did not know what to make of the sign. Commented one: "The Savoy attracts a lot of grannies. They are not really the type who do drugs." That may be, but now they'll think that enough of their fellow shoppers do that the council has put a sign up warning them off. 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; 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; Production editor: Paul Newton, t: 01342 332085, e: paulnewton@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 2018 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 | 25TH - 31ST JANUARY 2019 | 31 William Marchant @richonlyinname The allegations against one of the recently deceased energy suppliers are becoming so severe one wonders when enforcement ceases being a question for Ofgem and starts being a question for the Crown Prosecution Service. Andrew Simms @AndrewSimms_uk Nuclear power in the UK has been on publicly- funded life support since birth, and now a combination of cost, delays, cancellations and cheap renewables is killing it. Michael Liebreich @MLiebreich So much for the theory that overpaying for #Hinckley C was a necessary step on the path to the next generation of cheap #nuclear plants. Looks like we committed a £30 billion subsidy to a dead-end technology. Should have put £5 billion into leading SMR research. Adam Cooper @infra_adam Fag packet calculations: If @GregClarkMP was prepared to offer Hitachi £75/MWh for 2.7GW… and the forecast wholesale price is £55/MWh… Does he have enough CfD cash for 27GW of offshore wind at £57/MWh? RenewableUK @RenewableUK How about a #10yearchallenge? Share of generation 2008 v 2018. In 2008 #windenergy contributed less than 2% to our electricity mix. A decade later and it provides clean energy which meets 17% of our electricity needs. By 2028 wind will power almost a third of our electricity! Ingrid Holmes @IngridHolmes7 Worrying for the UK Govt's forthcoming #green #climate finance strategy: Infrastructure investors put "blanket ban" on UK assets, citing the country's "very negative" and "hostile" political and regulatory environment. Cornwall Council @CornwallCouncil The council has voted to declare a climate emergency. Supporting a motion on tackling climate change, members agreed that Cornwall needs to work to become carbon neutral and calls on Westminster to provide resources to help deliver that ambition. Top Tweets

• Cover