Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | 13TH - 19TH MARCH 2020 | 3 This week 4 | Seven days 6 | Inside story Government is to level the subsidy playing field for onshore wind and solar 11 Policy & Regulation 11 | News Legal bid to overturn the Energy National Policy Statement 13 Finance & Investment 13 | News Utility Week Investor Summit 15 Operations & Assets 15 | Market view How smaller energy suppliers can differentiate themselves 16 | Event How to manage consumer debt 20 | Market view Unlocking the true value of human capital 23 Customers 24 | Utility of the Future Distributed renewables coupled with AI and machine learning could transform the energy system 30 Community 31 | Disconnector Knowledge worth Keeping Subscribers to Utility Week can access premium content and exclusive research, available to read online or as downloadable documents. http://www.utilityweek.co.uk/ Leader Suzanne Heneghan The wait continues Just when we thought the big reveal was almost here, the National Infrastructure Strategy has been delayed once more. Only a few hours before news that the plan would no longer accom- pany the Budget, the chair of the National Infrastructure Commission had been on stage at Utility Week's Investor Summit in the City. The man with probably the best understanding in the country of the nation's critical infrastructure needs hadn't sounded too convinced when I asked if we'd finally get to see the vision this week. Instead, Sir John Armitt, who outlined a ra of recommendations to government in the Commission's 2018 National Infrastructure Assess- ment, admitted: "Will I be that surprised if it were to be put back a bit? Probably not." As we now know, we don't expect to see the detailed spending plan from the Treasury until May. It was news that caused widespread frustration among Utility Week sources this week, long hoping to hear precisely how the £100 billion earmarked for UK infrastructure investment will be used. Having a clear roadmap, and soon, is vital for energy and water companies with a central role to play in helping government "level up" the country through transport and digital infrastructure. Already, thanks to interminable Brexit wranglings and a general election, the Energy White Paper continues to elude a business sector desperate for clarity – although there are now hopes it should emerge this month. But there has also been industry recognition that, a er less than a month in the job – and with an escalating national Coronavirus emergency – it is right that new chancellor Rishi Sunak gets his own opportunity and time to set out the nation's investment strategy for achieving net zero by 2050. And of course, the government's recent U-turn on onshore wind has already appeased many utility voices – in hindsight an expertly timed move. But the clock is still ticking. As industry ambitions grow to meet carbon-neutral targets earlier, including water's goal for zero emissions by 2030, the "decisive, coherent action" in 2020 called for by Armitt is crucial. Two years on, his foreword in the Commission's report now makes timely reading. Highlighting how over the past 50 years the UK has seen an "endless cycle of delays, prevarication and uncertainty", it says the absence of "a cross-sectoral approach to infrastructure" limits growth, undermines job certainty and restricts innovation. As it rightly warns: "This will not do for the challenges ahead." Suzanne Heneghan, editor, suzanneheneghan@fav-house.com COVER STORY 6 | Inside story New wind direction for CfD auctions NEWS 13 | Utility Week Investor Summit EVENT 16 | Consumer Debt Conference: how to help vulnerable customers Advanced: Be utterly predictable. Because letting people down isn't an option https://bit.ly/2wnAxKU See the Community section, page 30 MARKET VIEW 20 | The true value of people and skills Utility Week Live 2020 suspended until autumn Utility Week Live 2020 has been suspended due to the escalating Coronavirus outbreak. Aer careful consideration, and having spoken with many people involved, the show has been moved to 10-11 November 2020 at the NEC's Hall 12, as the health, safety and wellbeing of our Utility Week Live community is our priority. This will enable us to deliver the great event the industry looks forward to. See utilityweeklive.co.uk for full details of the show.

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