Utility Week

4 | 20TH - 26TH MARCH 2020 | UTILITY WEEK Seven days... Pause on energy bills for home workers Millions of households could be given a break from energy bills as a growing number of companies send employees home because of the Coronavirus crisis. EDF Energy, which has five million customers and is one of the biggest utility firms in the country, said it would consider offering delayed payments to anyone who is affected by the outbreak. The news comes as the government warned that up to a fi•h of staff could be off work at the same time, disrupting regular travel plans and adding to power demand. The Sunday Telegraph Energy sector on war footing over virus As millions of people gear up to start working from home, energy suppliers are furiously modelling what these unprecedented patterns of demand could look like. The way people consume energy at weekends may bear the closest resemblance to how electricity demand will change in the coming weeks and months, as more people stay at home. Typically, weekend behaviours around this time of year lead to a 10 per cent drop in the average power demand compared to weekdays. But that is because people are more active on weekends. With many British people already choosing to not go out as they practise a form of social distancing, this may not hold true. The Telegraph UK coal-free fortnight claim 'misleading' The government's claim that Britain went coal-free for a fortnight last year was misleading because power was being imported from countries burning large amounts of coal, according to the Centre for Policy Studies think tank. The Times Press roundup DNOs plead for clarity on pandemic position A senior figure at one of the country's distribution network operators (DNO) has called for a clear message on how its workers will be treated if the Coronavirus spread becomes a pandemic in the UK. Ofgem has yet to confirm which licence conditions will be relaxed in such a situation, and there has been no discussion about social distancing rules for lifeline service providers. The source, who did not wish to be named, told Utility Week: "We are prepared for a stage where the country is in lockdown. But we need Ofgem to be very clear about what they expect from us in this very unusual situation. "If we get to a full-blown pandemic status, we would want to focus on sending workers out only to jobs where they are keeping the lights on. But we need to know that we're not going to end up in some inquiry because we didn't do such and such that the licence stipulates. "We also need to know our staff will be allowed to do their job and that might mean that some of the advice – for instance around social distancing – may not apply to them." In response, an Ofgem spokesman said: "We are aware that the current situation will present a number of challenges. As usual, we expect industry to alert us to any issues that arise and keep us informed of their plans to deal with these issues. We will consider any such circumstance in its context, including any official advice and logistical challenges outside licensees' control." The source said that they had been in contact with DNOs across the country and were confident that existing disaster plans were being effectively updated to cope with any eventuality. AJ "Network operators are working with the authorities to ensure their contingency plans are reviewed and delivered in accordance with the latest expert advice" David Smith, chief executive, ENA Coronavirus in Numbers 71 UK death toll at start of week 55k Number of people thought to be affected in UK 250k Government warns a quarter of a million people could die if new measures announced this week aren't followed 81% Number of UK people that could be infected by August without latest change of course * Figures correct at time of going to press

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