Utility Week

The Month in Review UTILITY WEEK | JUNE 2023 | 7 The Month in Review Fifth of UK energy firms run solely by men More than one-fih (21%) of the UK's biggest energy companies are solely run by men. Of the 80 biggest energy com- panies in the country, 17 still have no women on their boards, annual data released by POWER- ful Women (PfW) and PwC UK reveals. PfW's 2023 State of the Nation report shows that there has been very little progress during the past 12 months in regards to representation of women in key decision-making roles on the boards of the UK's top energy companies. The report reveals that women occupy just 29% of energy sector board seats (execu- tive and non-executive) – a rise of two percentage points on last year but 11% off the cross-sector target for the FTSE 350, which last year met its 2025 target of 40% women on the board. Meanwhile, women occupy 16% of executive board positions (just 1% higher than in 2022) and there are just six female CEOs in the top 80 UK energy companies. However, 21 companies have already met the FTSE Women Leaders Review target of hav- ing 40% women on the board by 2025. Chair of POWERful Women Katie Jackson said the sector was "stuck trailing the wider business community" add- ing that the latest figures were "disappointing". She added: "The fact that we still have almost a quarter of energy companies with all-male boards is simply unacceptable in 2023. "At this critical time when the energy system is changing, companies need to change too. The industry needs much better diversity so that it has the inno- vation and leadership for a suc- cessful energy transition and is much more representative of the consumers it serves." Thames Water successfully trials single social tariff model Thames Water has launched a pilot social tariff to extend the eligibility of financial support for customers. The pilot builds on criteria outlined as part of a proposed novel single social tariff despite the plug being pulled on a nationwide scheme. Thames chief executive Sarah Bentley told Utility Week that the company was supportive of the proposed single social tariff and keen to build on work led by CCW for nationwide support. Bentley was speaking a•er the launch of Utility Week's Action on Bills campaign, which is calling for clarity from government on how the water sector can invest without exacerbating affordability woes for billpayers. Plans for a nationwide single social tariff were rejected by environment secretary Therese Coffey without an alternative being proposed. Bentley said it was "absolutely critical" to provide a safety net for households needing financial support. As such, Thames has pushed ahead with its pilot, which uses a bill-to-income ratio eligibility criteria for support, which is broader than its other available tariffs. It builds on research led by CCW which identified water poverty in households where water bills exceed 5% of total net income, once other housing costs and taxes have been removed. Thames uses this theorem to identify customers in need of support. In the pilot's first month, 32% of billpayers onboarded for support were identified through the new approach. This equated to 817 of the 2,570 customers seeking support during April. Bentley said the early success of the trial demonstrated its potential benefits on a wider scale. "We've got this demographically representative sample, we can show the benefit of a single social tariff," Bentley said. "So, in the future, if there is more support then it's a model that is ready to go rather than spend another five years in the design." The UK is a 'victim of its own success' on grid delays The long delays renewable pro- jects face securing grid connec- tions are the result of the UK being a "victim of its own suc- cess" delivering new low-carbon generation, the networks minis- ter has claimed. Andrew Bowie was chal- lenged in the House of Commons by shadow energy minister Alan Whitehead about the "wretched state" of grid development, pointing to how renewables pro- jects are being told they will be unable to connect until 2035, the government's target date for a decarbonised electricity system. Responding on behalf of the government, Bowie said: "The United Kingdom is a victim of its own success, as this is what happens when new renewable electricity production is devel- oped at such scale and pace. We understand the challenges fac- ing the country and the grid." He also said that the govern- ment remains committed to the 2035 net-zero emissions grid target. Net zero minister Graham Stuart added that it is a "real issue" and the government was keenly awaiting Nick Win- ser's review of the transmission system. Bowie also said ministers are considering" a House of Lords amendment to the Energy Bill to give Ofgem a statutory duty in relation to meeting the UK's 2050 net zero target. £11m Increase in Ofwat's budget, which it said will allow it to treble its enforcement capabilities. £2,074 Level of energy price cap from 1 July – a fall of £1,200 from the previous quarter. 170,000 Smart meter installations in April 2023, representing the fourth consecutive month-on-month fall in the figures. £80m Cost of the upgrade at Sizewell B, which has now returned to service.

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