Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | 18TH - 24TH OCTOBER 2019 | 15 Policy & Regulation Presentation highlight: Day 1. Defra's water resources specialist Ed Beard emphasised the critical resilience challenges ahead for the water sector as a result of climate change, increasing water scarcity and population growth. Key moments from Day 1 • BEIS and Defra senior civil servants set out the imperative for combating climate change • Utility chief executives from across the sector promised to work harder and faster to adapt for a net zero emissions and climate stressed future – but called on citizens to step up too • Ofwat CEO denied PR19 dra€ determinations undermine company resilience plans and called for a national campaign on water demand reduction • Ofgem CEO revealed the regulator has asked for changes to the Renewables Obligation payment structure as small suppliers struggle – he also admitted to regrets from his tenure at the head of the energy regulator. • Auto-switching and comparison site chief executive received a grilling on business model and impact on level playing … eld in the energy retail sector • Water retailer chief executive Johanna Dow demanded wholesalers pick up the cost of correcting data errors from market opening • Technology experts labelled open data the key to better utility operations, customer service and action against climate change Key moments from Day 2 • Infrastructure and Projects Authority leader warned "no utility system is an island" and urged greater adoption of systems thinking as complexity of maintaining utilities resilience grows • Panel debate highlighted need for standards in grid-edge devices to defend against cyber resilience threats • Panel debate focussed on public willingness to pay for security of supply and investments in low probability-high risk resilience threats • Pennon CFO shared new performance drivers emerging from growth in green … nance • Northern Ireland regulator chief executive expressed fears over "very real threat" of no deal Brexit to future of Ireland's Single Electricity Market • Customer service experts agreed cost of poor service increases with smart channel options • Smart asset experts urged greater application of systems thinking to ensure utility networks do not focus on deploying smart devices in a "dumb" system. • Vulnerable customers expert welcomed external evaluation and warned against industry marking its own homework. Presentation highlight: Day 1. Economic Insight's director and co-founder Sam Williams set out his understanding of the key requirements of regulation for net zero. Presentation highlight: Day 2. Pennon CFO Susan Davy highlighted the rapidly developing world of sustainable „ nance and its signi„ cance to utilities in a world of challenged legitimacy, tough price controls and uncertain policy. Presentation highlight: Day 2. The Infrastructure and Projects Authority's Richard Ploszek gave a compelling case for greater appreciation of systems thinking and "system of systems" interdependencies in a world of increasing challenge for utilities resilience. National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) analysis

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