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Utility Week 24th May 2019

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UTILITY WEEK | 24TH - 30TH MAY 2019 | 5 Last week Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford visited Welsh Water's Five Fords Energy Park in Wrexham to see the green projects the company is undertaking to cut emissions. Five Fords has 10,000 solar panels generating 2.5GW of energy along with a gas-to-grid plant, and has been turned into a "model green energy site" thanks to £36 million of investment. WATER Severn Trent profits up 7% for 2018/19 Severn Trent warned about the impact of nationalisation, as it posted its latest set of financial figures on 21 May. The water services company announced its preliminary results for the year ending 31 March. They show a 6.8 per cent rise in pre-tax profit of £36 million to £563 million for 2018/19. Group turnover rose by 4.2 per cent (£71 million) to £1.767 billion. The company said there was "excellent progress" with its capi- tal programme, with £769 million spent last year. Severn Trent is one of three water companies that had their business plans fast-tracked by Ofwat, and it said it was confident about 2019/20 after a "strong sec- ond half of operational improve- ments" in 2018/19. Severn Trent chief executive Liv Garfield said the results dem- onstrate "that we can deliver for our investors". However, the company also warned that the regulatory landscape was "complex" and it warned of the impact that Labour's plans to nationalise the water sec- tor could have on the industry. Earlier this month, it emerged that Labour planned to take public ownership of water companies for less than half the market value, prompting concerns from within the sector. ENERGY Energy minister to take leave of absence Claire Perry is taking a temporary leave of absence from her post as energy and clean growth minister to care for a close relative who is unwell. The MP for Devizes announced on Twitter that Chris Skidmore, minister of state for universities and science in the BEIS (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) department, would be covering the energy brief in her absence. Skidmore, who is MP for the Bristol constituency of Kingswood, will also attend meetings of the Cabinet in Perry's absence. Perry said: "I am extremely grateful to Theresa May for allowing me to take a temporary ministerial leave of absence to care for a family member, and huge thanks to my talented colleague Chris Skidmore for covering the crucial energy and clean growth brief while I'm away." 9.55GW Britain broke its solar output record twice in two days this month, reaching a peak of nearly 10GW on 14 May. 16% Percentage of board seats at the top 80 UK energy companies occupied by women, according to the Powerful Women initiative. The opening of the 1GW Nemo Link interconnector with Belgium (the UK's third electricity interconnector to continental Europe) has pushed power imports into Great Britain to a new record high, according to the latest Electric Insights report from Drax. The analysis, conducted by researchers at Imperial College London, shows that a tenth of Britain's electricity consumption over February and March was supplied by imports from Europe. Electricity imports hit all-time highs 10% 5% 0% Source: Drax/Imperical College London European share of GB electricity market 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 PERCENTAGE OF GB ELECTRICITY IMPORTED FROM EUROPE

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