UTILITY WEEK | MAY 2021 |
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
Energy crisis makes the
case for sector reform
It is now a year since we relaunched our print edition, aimed at providing a
monthly snapshot of developments across the utilities sector and analysing the
most important trends.
For me, this provides a valuable complement to our up-to-the-minute cover-
age online and allows a di erent perspective. However, there are undeniable
challenges when it comes to publishing a magazine in the middle of a breaking
story.
At the risk of ruining some myths about the newsroom (don't worry, we all
wear fedora hats and smoke constantly), we send this magazine o to be printed
almost a week before it hits your doormat. I mention this only because as I type
we are in the eye of a storm sparked by surging wholesale gas prices and, given
the speed at which the story is developing, we may well be in a very di erent
place by the time you read this.
Nevertheless, there are some very clear discussion points. I found the di er-
ing responses to the unfolding crisis interesting, if in some cases disquieting.
Just as with the power outages in Texas earlier this year, there were the inevita-
ble mendacious voices grasping on the opportunity to discredit investment in
renewables. Thankfully, the government's rebuttal to these sketchy arguments
was clear and forceful. However, it is worrying to note these lurking cabals of
climate denial still exist. It would be unwise to simply hope they disappear.
Meanwhile, the industry, Ofgem and government largely presented a united
front in appealing for calm and insisting that billpayers will be protected from
the fallout of the price shocks. This is, of course, the absolute priority in both the
short and the long term. However, behind the scenes the conversation is clearly
not so convivial.
Energy secretary Kwasi Kwarteng's breezy assertion when addressing the
Commons that it is perfectly normal for suppliers to exit the market at this time
of year was perhaps stretching the reassurance too far, given the scale of sup-
plier failures during the past few weeks. However, his comments highlight the
fact that the current debacle has its roots in systemic problems within the energy
retail market which have existed for some time.
There is a clear danger that once immediate measures have been taken to
paper over the cracks currently appearing, real reform of the market will be
shelved as this crisis falls down the news agenda. In a bid to ensure this does
not happen, Utility Week has launched Energy Reset – a campaign aimed at
creating the foundations for the energy retail market of the future. Find out
more on pages 8-9. I would be very keen to hear your views on how develop this
campaign, so please do get in touch.
James Wallin, editor, jameswallin@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 confi dence 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
Editor:
James Wallin,
e: jameswallin@fav-house.com;
t: 01342 332015
Energy editor:
Tom Grimwood,
e: tomgrimwood@fav-house.com;
t: t: 01342 332061
Senior 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
Innovate editor:
Stuart Stone,
e: stuartstone@fav-house.com,
t: 01342 332001
YTS:
Open banking: The blue-sky
opportunity for utility companies
https://bit.ly/3ofi mA3
Occutrace
Tackling the challenge of long
unread water meters
https://bit.ly/3EKHqo1
IFS:
Transforming your service
operations is hard. Selecting the
right partner shouldn't be
https://bit.ly/3CFG2S4
Letter from the Editor
James Wallin
