Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | 3RD - 9TH APRIL 2020 | 3 This week 4 | Seven days 6 | Inside story Steve Fraser, the CEO of Cadent, on the case for hydrogen 9 Policy & Regulation 9 | News Ofwat sets flexible timetable for goals 10 | Voices Lawrence Slade, chief executive, GIIA, talks regional growth 11 | Chief executive's view Mike Foster, Energy and Utilities Alliance, on Covid-19 lessons 12 | Opinion How local authorities can play a vital role in achieving net zero 13 Finance & Investment 13 | News Eon-Kraken deal is major step for sector 14 Operations & Assets 14 | Analysis How keen are UK utilities to adopt open data principles and why? 20 | Market view Getting the most from 5G 21 | Opinion Sharon Darcy, Sustainability First 23 | Analysis Utility Week launches its #AskUsAnything webinars 25 Customers 25 | News Clarity needed over smart meter rollout 26 | Analysis The big challenge of small things when it comes to water efficiency 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 Why we must not lose sight of the future It is the ultimate disruptor, and the ultimate leveller too. In less than a month anything now seems possible under Covid-19 with nothing escap- ing its impact. Headlines on what at the turn of the decade was the undisputed emer- gency of our generation, net zero, have rightly made way for those reflect- ing the life and death battles being waged to protect our nation. Likewise, the government game-changer that was regional growth has now been confined to the policy backseat. But what could a new world order look like once we eventually emerge from the dark tunnel of coronavirus? It's a brave person who predicts what the future might hold, not least for the decarbonisation agenda, or the levelling-up narrative – both so all-consuming only a few weeks ago. As always, Utility Week has been tracking the latest industry thinking swirling around an increasingly uncertain sector. This week, in our Voices column (see p10), one seasoned energy commentator outlines precisely why, despite the indisputable challenges of the current crisis, we simply cannot afford to lose sight of our future goals. Utilities, he says, will need to be in the best shape they can be to help drive forward our economy and attract vital investment when the time for progress finally arrives. Furthermore, when we all surface a‡er the storm we will have, as he puts it, an "opportunity to reset society's relationship with the built environment and pull the country together". Those who may believe that as the economy and carbon emissions slow, so too will the decarbonisation debate would be wise to think again, suggests another chief executive writing in the magazine this week (see p11). On the contrary, he points to how the pandemic has shown the coun- try's absolute inter-dependency on the actions of the rest of the world, adding that a smart climate change policy has never been more crucial. In a message to the regulator, he urges that the GD2 price controls must not underestimate the role of robust public infrastructure, and those that run it, in Britain's recovery. A fundamental change in mindset is already happening as we move through the maelstrom, another industry voice, and champion for sus- tainability reflects on page 21. The "massive" social shi‡ now under way and historic redefining of the public's relationship with the state could herald a radical remodelling for essential utility services, she predicts. What feels absolutely certain is that nothing will ever be the same again. Suzanne Heneghan, editor, suzanneheneghan@fav-house.com COVER STORY 6 | Inside story The 'H' factor CEO VIEW 11 | Climate change fight must go on ANALYSIS 26 | Water efficiency is about small wins Advanced: Be utterly predictable. Because letting people down isn't an option https://bit.ly/2wnAxKU See the Community section, page 30 ANALYSIS 14 | Should utilities embrace open data?

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