Utility Week

Community Disconnector hopes so. Let's make this happen. Lost in translation Being a man of a certain age, Disconnector has long since accepted that he is no longer "down with the kids" when it comes to technology. Having only just mastered the art of buying something called MP3s to replace his much-loved Chas and Dave vinyl collection, he is now under pressure to join the 21st century and buy a smart device instead. You know the sort. You yell at them until you are blue in the face and they tell you the weather in Blackburn, even though you actually asked for Tony Blackburn on Radio 2. That said, Disconnector is tempted to try out the Electric Vehicles Voice App on Amazon Alexa and Google Play, which contains the answers to more than 50 commonly asked ques- tions about EVs. Developed by media agency Wavemaker and the Go Ultra Low campaign, the app is voiced by TV presenter, writer and all-round decent chap Ben Fogle. Apparently, all one has to do is say "Alexa, open electric vehicles" or "Okay Google, talk to electric vehicles guide". Disconnector is keen to try this app, although knowing his luck, he will get the Electric Disconnector Publishing director, Utilities: Ellen Bennett, t: 01342 332084, e: ellenbennett@fav-house.com; Content director: Jane Gray, janegray@fav-house.com, t: 01342 333004; Editor: Suzanne Heneghan, t: 01342 332106, e: suzanneheneghan@fav-house.com Digital editor: James Wallin, 01342 332015, jameswallin@fav-house.com; Intelligence editor: Denise Chevin, 01342 332087, denisechevin@fav-house.com Energy correspondent: Tom Grimwood, t: 01342 332061, e: tomgrimwood@fav-house.com; Policy correspondent: David Blackman, e: davidblackman@ fav-house.com; Reporter: Adam John, t: 01342 332069, e: adamjohn@fav-house.com; Water correspondent: Ruth Williams, e: ruthwilliams@fav-house.com, t: 01342 332069 Production editor: Paul Newton, t: 01342 332085, e: paulnewton@fav-house.com; Business development manager: Ben Hammond, e: benhammond@fav-house.com. t: 01342 332116; Business development executive: Sarah Wood, e: sarahwood@fav-house.com. t: 01342 332117 Conference sponsorship manager: Sophie Abbott, t: 01342 332062, e: sophieabbott@fav-house.com; General enquiries: 01342 332000; Membership enquiries: Peter Bissell, t: 01342 332057, e: peterbissell@fav-house.com. 2,500 Average circulation Jan–Dec 2018 Membership subscriptions: UK £950+VAT per year. Contact Jo Nikiforov on: 01342 332077 UtilityWeek Utility of the Future: Reinventing the grid p24 UTILITIES AND INVESTMENT: TALKING POINTS AT UW INVESTOR SUMMIT 2020 p13 13TH - 19TH MARCH 2020 THE BUSINESS OF UTILITIES CONSUMER DEBT: HOW TO HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE CUSTOMERS p16 A new dawn for wind and solar? Utility Week is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), the regulator of the UK's magazine and newspaper industry. We abide by the Editors' Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint, please contact the Editor. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you want more information about IPSO or the Editors' Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk. flowing out of the kitchen tap, but there's always one. Disconnector still dreams about having his favourite ale on tap in his home. One of these days, he sighs… Magic move High-profile appointments are very de rigueur these days and no self-respecting start-up can afford to be without a big name to help draw in the punters and investors. But hats off to US renewable energy company Uncharted Power for going one better and getting a bona fide legend on board. It was revealed earlier this month that none other than former LA Lakers star Magic Johnson has joined its board of directors. According to the company, the Basketball Hall of Famer will expand Uncharted Power's energy programmes and help the company to establish new partnerships. "Many of America's urban, multicultural communities are being leœ behind when it comes to basic human rights such as feeling safe in the community, providing for family, getting an education and, quite literally, keeping the lights on," said Johnson in a statement. Are there any British renew- able energy company directors out there who want to shoot some hoops with Johnson? Nothing to wine about It's been a rum old time for the water industry of late. First there was the threat of nation- alisation, then there were the PR19 price determinations and most recently, freak weather conditions across the country. Anyone in the sector hoping for a miracle might want to consider moving to Italy, where it appears, they have been able to turn water into wine. It was reported last week that taps in a village near Mod- ena started to pour Lambrusco aœer a technical fault at the local Cantina Settecani winery. The winery is connected to the water system, but a valve malfunction meant that wine started flowing in the wrong direction and entered the general water supply. The fault was soon rectified, but accord- ing to local newspaper reports, not before the locals "bottled as much of the precious liquid as they could". Aœerwards, the local council and winery took to Facebook to reassure residents. "The accident did not involve hygiene or sanitary risks: it was only wine, but already ready for bottling!" said the winery. "We apologise for the possible inconvenience." It's hard to imagine any- one complaining about the "inconvenience" of Lambrusco UTILITY WEEK | 13TH - 19TH MARCH 2020 | 31 Light Orchestra's Greatest Hits instead. Mind you, a cheeky blast of Jeff Lynne is never a bad thing. Jumping on the bandwagon Apparently there is something called coronavirus doing the rounds. You also cannot buy toilet roll in any supermarket south of the Watford gap, but Disconnector is sure these two particular facts are not in any way related. But as the world readies itself and starts, quite literally, washing its collective hands, there are some things we can always rely upon, namely press releases claiming to have some spurious connection with the subject of the day. Many coronavirus-related missives have darkened Disconnec- tor's door over the past week, including the inevitable calls for home-working, but the one that stood out from the pile was from a company market- ing CCTV that could spot if staff are running a fever. It's all down to thermal imaging, you see. It's frightfully clever and no doubt, imminently possible, but even so. Disconnector thinks he will stick to panic buying. He doesn't need an excuse to stock up on his favourite tipple (Old Peculier, if anyone is asking), but he will use it nonetheless.

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