Utility Week

The Month in Review Brearley Pinchbeck 6 | MARCH 2023 | UTILITY WEEK "If bills go up by £200, for a family living in an area of high deprivation and support is not there, I don't know what's going to happen." Emma Clancy, chief executive of CCW, expresses her disappointment at the government's rolling back on previous statements in support of a nationwide social tariff. See p24 The Month in Review T he Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) was broken up in February as part of Rishi Sunak's Cabinet reshuffle. The prime minister unveiled a new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, to be led by Grant Shapps, previously the BEIS secretary. Meanwhile, the former international trade secretary, Kemi Badenoch, was named the new secretary of state for business and trade with former energy minister Greg Hands becoming the new Conservative party chairman. The reshuffle brings the government closer to the structure already adopted by Labour, which has Ed Miliband in the shadow climate change and net zero role and Jonathan Reynolds as shadow business secretary. Sunak said the new energy department has been tasked with "securing our long- term energy supply, bringing down bills and halving inflation". The announcement unveiling the reshuffle said it reflected the impact of the Ukraine war on power prices and "the need to secure more energy from domestic nuclear and renewable sources as we seize the opportunities of net zero". However, Miliband responded saying: "So seven years a"er the disastrous decision to abolish the Department of Energy, the Con- servatives now admit they got it wrong, but Sunak scraps BEIS Water bills rise below inflation Water bills for customers in England and Wales are set to rise by an average of 7.5% from April, the sector has announced. The average water and sewerage bill will go up by £31 for the year to £448. The average water bill will be £215 (an increase of £16) and the average sewerage bill will be £233 (up £15). Last year the sector average increase of 1.7% brought combined bills to £417. This represents the single largest jump in bills since 2005, but companies have kept the increases below inflation. The lowest bills are once again at Hafren Dyfrdwy, which sees charges rise to £372 from £334 last year. For 2022, many custom- ers saw bills fall year on year, but this year companies have not been able to offer reduc- tions. Water-only charges for Portsmouth Water customers remain the sector's lowest at £117. Meanwhile, Scottish Water announced that bills would increase by 5% from April. a rearranging of deck chairs on the sinking Titanic of failed Conservative energy policy will not rescue the country." BEIS has existed since 2016 when it was created by the merger of the Department of Energy and Climate Change with the Depart- ment for Business, Innovation and Skills. Energy UK chief executive Emma Pinch- beck said the trade body had long called for a dedicated energy department but added: "While this focused new department is welcome, its significance depends on whether we now see the urgent progress we are calling for, right now, to help with the ongoing energy crisis and to make sure the UK maintains its market position as a leader in net zero investment and infrastructure." Ross Easton, interim chief executive of the Energy Networks Association (ENA) also welcomed the prime minister's recognition that these "substantial topics" warranted a standalone department. However, he warned: "The proof is not in the name or the Whitehall machinery, but in the delivery of high-quality policy which supports safe, secure, sustainable and reli- able energy supplies for customers – now and in the future. That is the real test. We are looking forward to working with the sec- retary of state and his team to deliver this." See analysis p16 and 17 David Blackman, policy correspondent Sunak: energy security focus 52% Of traditional prepayment meter customers in London had redeemed their energy bill support scheme payments as of November last year, the lowest uptake in the country

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