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UTILITY WEEK | DECEMBER 2020 | 5 Knowledge worth Keeping Subscribers to Utility Week can access premium content and exclusive research at the Download section of our website. http://www.utilityweek.co.uk Local energy for local people Tantalizingly soon we shall all be able to wish good riddance to 2020. The year has been one of unprecedented stress and strain for individuals, businesses, society and the econ- omy. But as we ache with hope for a better 2021, we shouldn't lose sight of the opportuni- ties to preserve and nurture a few of the changes the pandemic has forced on us. One of things that is oen talked up as a positive legacy of the pandemic is an increased appreciation of the power of local action in effecting change. Certainly, at Utility Week's recent Build Back Better Forum (see p14) a series of industry CEOs spoke of the ways in which the pandemic has magnified their sense of responsibility to commu- nities, as well making them think afresh about the ways in which local allies could be harnessed in future, to educate and promote behaviour changes to battle more than just the spread of Covid. This could be a critical development in the ongoing fight to counter climate change. Since the UK made it's commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, an increas- ingly vocal cohort of experts has argued for a locally led energy transition in the UK – one which can accommodate diversity in the decarbonisation pathways taken by different towns, cities and regions, depending on their geographic and socio-economic characteristics. It's an approach that comes with its complexities. For example, as local and city authorities with relatively greater ambition and resources press ahead with their low- carbon strategies, we could see new forms of regional inequality and vulnerability emerge across the UK, with some communities being le behind. Furthermore, diversity in the pace and shape of local decarbonisation raises big questions for the way in which the costs of infrastructure reinforcement or expansion are socialised (this is a live debate in the development of the RIIO-ED2 price control framework). A locally led transition is also problematic from a policy perspective. At a recent Util- ity Week virtual roundtable discussion, participants almost unanimously slated central government's attitude towards local energy as "paternalistic" – despite recent warm words about it from the energy minister. Further, they said there is no robust framework in place for coordinating local and national decarbonisation strategies, with the latter still too heavily focused on big-ticket projects. Notwithstanding these problems, the logic in favour of a locally led energy transi- tion is strong. It has better chances of securing the citizen buy-in needed to legitimise net zero investments, and consumers have proven themselves far more likely to engage in behaviour change and demand-side measures – which are essential to cost-effective decarbonisation – when they can see these things are linked to tangible improvements for their surroundings and communities. So, as we seek to kick the dust of 2020 from our heels, let's not leave behind the definition it has brought around the clout of community action. Jane Gray, content director, janegray@fav-house.com Meet the Editorial Team Utility Week provides unrivalled news, insight and impact analysis, private networking and live events on key areas including policy and regulation, vulnerable customers and operational excellence. Learn how Utility Week membership can build confidence in your team's decision making - speak to our membership team today on e: jonikiforov@fav-house.com; t: 01342 332077 Content director: Jane Gray, e: janegray@fav-house.com, t: 01342 333004 Digital editor: James Wallin, e: jameswallin@fav-house.com; t: 01342 332015 Intelligence editor: Denise Chevin, e: denisechevin@ fav-house.com; t: 01342 332087 Energy editor: Tom Grimwood, e: tomgrimwood@fav-house.com; t: t: 01342 332061 Reporter: Adam John e: adamjohn@fav-house.com; t: 01342 332069 Water correspondent: Ruth Williams, e: ruthwilliams@fav-house.com, t: 01342 332069 Policy correspondent: David Blackman, e: davidblackman@fav-house.com Letter from the Editor Jane Gray Tableau: White Paper: 10 Best Practices for Building Effective Dashboards https://bit.ly/3iSb8vh Fortinet: Sponsored Technology Securing ageing assets against rising cyber threats https://bit.ly/3dlhxxO Panasonic Toughbook: Whitepaper: Rugged mobile computing in action for utilities https://bit.ly/3c3OA93