Utility Week

go further to help vulnerable customers. "The sector is moving towards the industry-wide exchange of data and priority services registers for the benefit of customers," says Manfredi. "It is encouraging to see that the [UU and ENW] trial has been extended as part of the industry-wide 'One Priority Services Register by 2020' ini a ve. With a con nued push to inform consumers about the benefits of the data-sharing process as an industry, we will be able to boost consent rates and deliver a na onal data share for priority services across the water and energy sector by 2020." Water outlook The water sector has historically trailed energy market in terms of progress, admits Manfredi. However, significant work is being undertaken to reduce this gap. Manfredi believes the standardisa on, pushed by Water UK, to streamline adop ons, as well as the Sewers Adop on v8, which lays out the process for adop ng sustainable drainage systems (Suds), are significant drivers for transi on across the sector. Addi onally, the launch of the New Appointments and Varia on (Nav) scheme (see previous page) heralds an encouraging step-change for water u li es. "Leep has seen posi ve changes as a result of Ofwat's work in the Nav market, resul ng in insets becoming a more commercially viable proposi on," she explains. Leep has witnessed growth in both the independent distribu on network operator (IDNO) and water markets in recent years, with it becoming increasingly important for the company to set itself apart from compe tors. "We provide a flexible and straigh orward service and are willing to work with ICPs or developers directly. Leep is commi ed to providing transparency for the asset payments, which will be paid in return for the adop on of the networks," says Manfredi. "Diversifica on is key to the business's ongoing success; we believe there is a requirement to provide a full mul -adop on offering to developers. Similarly, with A WORD FROM BADGE SPONSOR AND EXHIBITOR IFS IFS develops and delivers enterprise so ware for energy, u li es and resources companies around the world who manufacture or engineer equipment, maintain assets, or manage service-focused opera ons. In addi on to today's challenges, investment in renewables is accelera ng even faster than previously predicted, customer experience and user experience demand is driving innova on, a new genera on of proac ve consumers is driving demand for more diversified energy, business and payment models – therefore in 2019 energy, u li es and resources companies face the challenges of an industry rapidly diversifying, decentralising and digi sing. IFS so ware is used by a range of companies globally to enable them to meet these challenges. Our solu ons are used by some of the world's largest power-genera on projects, na onal-grid corpora ons, nuclear- power plants and mul -na onal genera on, transmission and distribu on companies. Visit us on stand F60 in the IoT zone to find out how IFS can help improve your asset performance, customer service and suppor ng business processes. Hear Paul White – IFS Director, Customer Engagement Solu ons – explain how to successfully apply AI to deliver a great customer experience: 9.45, Technology & Customer Experience session in the Water Theatre, on 21 May P R E S E N T S 26 | 12TH - 18TH APRIL 2019 | UTILITY WEEK serves customers: decarbonisa on, decentralisa on, and digitalisa on. Alongside the shi towards renewables and flexible energy sources, there is a simultaneous movement away from power being produced in large, centralised power sta ons. "This is a hugely posi ve development but one that is crea ng fresh challenges for energy networks," says Sam Salisbury, labs director, Centrica Innova ons. The impact of these market changes has been amplified by the emergence of new technologies that are fundamentally altering the tradi onal energy landscape. "The arrival of electric vehicles, coupled with advances in connec vity, ba ery storage, solar and other renewables that allow homes and businesses to produce and store their own energy, is crea ng new opportuni es for us to engage with customers," explains Salisbury. This major change in the way businesses engage with customers is also being facilitated through increased collabora on between different u li es, par cularly between energy and water. Louise Manfredi, managing director at mul -u lity operator Leep U li es (see box, previous page), has closely monitored the success of the data-sharing trial between United U li es (UU) and Electricity North West (ENW). The pilot proved that data-sharing can remove the onus currently on the customer to register for addi onal support with mul ple companies. It also showed that data-sharing helps companies

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