Utility Week

According to the UWL survey, the water sector rated water metering (8.1 out of 10) and data analy cs (8.3) as two of the technologies having the biggest impact on the industry. IoT and AI follow closely, according to water respondents, scoring 6.8 and 7.3 respec vely. However, Stephanie Hurry, head of water efficiency and customer par cipa on at Waterwise, insists there is s ll a need for a larger debate in the water sector about the amount of open data, and the use of data in general. "More open data would enable greater public engagement with water and the development of more ICT [informa on and communica ons technology] solu ons, which could aid water efficiency," she says. "However, there is also a need to protect privacy and consider the ethics of data collec on and use." Hurry acknowledges that the propor on of smart meter solu ons must be increased. "Smart meters should provide informa on that will aid network op misa on and customer- facing informa on to drive water efficiency. But there needs to be more work on the use of smart rather than big data," she adds. "Water companies need to focus on what data is needed and how this should be gathered." The influx of new technologies makes it increasingly difficult for u li es to iden fy the solu ons that are the best fit for their business and their customers. U li es must engage more with consumers to ensure they are part of the decision-making process. EMPOWERING CUSTOMERS For Anglian Water, innova on and customer engagement are intrinsically linked. The company's Innova on Shop Window in Newmarket (see case study) is a real-world test site that promotes innova on. "As one of the fastest-growing, and driest, regions in the country, planning for the future and improving resilience is a top priority," says Adam Brookes, technology and innova on programme manager for Anglian. "One year into the [Innova on Shop Window] campaign, we've seen customer sa sfac on and engagement soar – and average water use drop by 6 per cent." Similarly, the digital transforma on across the energy sector is empowering consumers through their smart devices so they become ac ve par cipants in the system. However, James Robo om, energy lead at the Ins tu on of Engineering and Technology (IET), warns that this digital transforma on poses both an opportunity and a threat. "Digitalisa on is at the core of a large opportunity to find new business models to capture this value but is also a threat to established ways of working." INNOVATION INHIBITORS Robo om believes the na onal energy transforma on requires a en on to true whole-system op misa on. Clear policy from Ofgem will be key. "It is unrealis c to expect network companies to move away from tradi onal solu ons at any great scale before the regulator has made clear how the companies can earn returns in a world of 'non-build' solu ons and developments such as distribu on system operators (DSOs) opera ng data pla orms," he says. There is a need to protect privacy and consider the ethics of data collection and use. II C A S E S T U D Y INNOVATION SHOP WINDOW Anglian Water's Innova on Shop Window is a real-world loca on where the company seeks to drive innova on through collabora on across its business, supply chain and the en re man-made water cycle. According to the company, the Newmarket site allows it to improve customer service, environmental stewardship and the efficiency of the business at a much faster pace. Adam Brookes, technology and innova on programme manager, says: "Our Innova on Shop Window in Newmarket is an industry first, real-world testbed that allows the organisa on to trial the latest technology, systems and processes to create the water company of the future, today." P R E S E N T S 26 | 1ST - 7TH MARCH 2019 | UTILITY WEEK

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