Utility Week

6 | 15TH - 21ST NOVEMBER 2019 | UTILITY WEEK Election 2019 Research A er one of the most tumultuous periods in UK pol- itics, we now face one of the most unpredictable general elections in our history. Voters go to the polls in just under a month, a er the Westminster show- down over Brexit convinced MPs that an election was the only way to end the impasse. But what could all this mean for utilities? Most dra- matically of course, the spectre of nationalisation under a Labour government now moves from political idealogy to a real possibility. However, the political exposure of the utilities sector means that all the major political par- ties have the industry in their sights as big parts of their campaigns. Along with its bid to see public ownership of energy and water companies, Labour is calling for a fairer shar- ing of rewards and urgent action from the energy sec- tor on decarbonisation, as well as demanding that the costs of net zero are not unduly borne by the poorest in society. All will be focal points of its campaign in the coming‚weeks. Meanwhile, with attitudes towards the industry run- ning high, public trust in utilities feels at an all-time low. The public's perception of the industry has not been helped in recent years by politicians making the sector a scapegoat for policy failures. The industry has also o en been unfairly vili† ed by critics, with accusations of cor- porate greed, or that it has exploited consumers from a position of quasi-monopoly. But what does the voting public think about the important issues thrown up by the utility market? And what do people think of the stance adopted by politi- cians on the big issues? Research carried out for Utility Week by Harris Inter- active, entitled Political Climate and Public Attitudes, before the election explored the attitudes of voters towards utilities and asked the question, what change if any should a new government make on the operation and activities of water and energy companies in the UK? The online survey of 2,114 adults aged 18+ across Eng- land, Scotland and Wales, weighted to best re" ect the size and shape of the population, took place between 2‚and 9 September. Nationalisation In May, Labour outlined its plan to nationalise the energy networks as a central tenet of the party's aims to address climate change, arguing that the pro† ts gen- erated from the infrastructure should be invested in the green economy, rather than given to shareholders through dividends. Labour has also said that renationalising the water industry is necessary to make a meaningful attempt to decarbonise the country by 2030. That pledge appears to have struck a chord with respondents to our survey, which highlights high levels of dissatisfaction with the current model of utility own- ership. Just under one-quarter of respondents said they were satis† ed with the current private company owner set-up, with men signi† cantly more likely to favour pri- vate company ownership. A third of those questioned said government would be better suited to provide the lifeline services of energy and water, with the same proportion of respondents favouring utilities being at least partly owned by local government, with pro† ts going back into communities. What voters want from utilities With a general election just around the corner, an exclusive Utility Week poll conducted by Harris Interactive reveals what the voters really think of utilities, and the political initiatives being aimed at them. Rachel Willcoxreports. SURVEY UTILITY OWNERSHIP GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES 2,114 adults surveyed 2-9 September 2019 Private/public partnerships/ local government-owned companies (with profi ts going back into local communities) Yes No Don't know/unsure Government would be better suited to provide these lifeline services of energy and water Private companies, as they do now Don't know/unsure Other Question: Who do you think should own utility companies? Question: Government is under pressure to bring forward the ban on the sale of new petrol cars to 2032. Would you support a move to bring the date forward? 32% 32% 24% 47% 31% 17% 1% 12%

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