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GAS 13 | Political Agenda Tories back competition 17 | Stock watch 18 | Shale gas tax regime 24 | News cold spell sees spike in gas usage WATER 6 | UW expert view: Karma Ockenden 8 | Matthew Wright Southern Water CEO interview 13 | News bad debt is companies' problem ELECTRICITY 16 | Market view how pension reform will hit utilities 18 | CCS should suppliers foot the bill? 20 | High viz SSE's Keadby windfarm 22 | UKPN sets an agenda for innovation 25 | Selling onshore wind 26 | Atikokan Ontario's ground-breaking biomass project Energy 6 | Viewpoint: Paul Massara Npower 14 | Analysis Labour's proposed price freeze 21 | Pipe up: smart meters and isolators 24 | Customers Ombudsman Service ready to spread its wings 24 | News VAT cut could be used to boost Green Deal take-up This week Leader Ellen Bennett 4 | Seven days 6 | Opinion Paul Massara, Npower 8 | Interview Matthew Wright, CEO, Southern Water Ed has given energy firms an opportunity 13 When Ed Miliband took to the stage in Brighton, doing the energy industry a favour was the last thing on his mind. Yet in the ultimate exercise in irony, it may well transpire that the Labour leader's rabble-rousing speech did just that. It certainly seemed to serve his purpose, with Labour well up in the polls at the weekend. However, for every consumer and media outlet that has cheered Miliband's lurch to the left on energy policy, there has been one that has seen the massive holes. Chancellor George Osborne's decision to dismiss it as a "back of a fag packet" gimmick shows the Conservatives aren't running scared. Indeed, many inside the market and out are saying that such an ill-thought-through policy could never see the light of the day. But Miliband has opened up the conversation. Two weeks ago, the question of whether environmental and social subsidies should be paid through the energy bill or through general taxation was barely discussed outside the industry. Now, these questions are on every newcaster's lips. Many energy companies have seized the opportunity Miliband has so kindly provided to put their case, for once. Eon chief executive Tony Cocker wrote an open letter to Miliband: "I'm asking all politicians: Help me to get smart meters into more homes more quickly. Help me to get British homes up to a modern, energy-efficient standard. Help me to get UK businesses on top of their energy use." It's a plea repeated across the industry. Miliband has raised the spectre of a price freeze. But more importantly, he's given the energy industry a platform to explain just how the consumer's bill is spent. There are already signs that ministers are listening, with energy minister Michael Fallon indicating a willingness to scale back green costs where possible and Greg Barker opening the door to a delay in Eco. What will it take to keep the lights on and bills down while doing our best for the environment? What would be the unintended consequences of a bill freeze? Will breaking up the big six's generation and retail businesses open up the market to competition? Email me at ellen.bennett@fav-house.com or tweet #lightson and have your say in the big debate – started by Ed Miliband. Ellen Bennett, Editor ellen.bennett@fav-house.com Policy & Regulation 13 | News Osborne slams Labour 'fag packet' policy 13 | Politics Mathew Beech writes 14 | Analysis The energy price freeze 16 | Market view Pension reform 17 Finance & Investment 17 | News Biomass investment at risk under EMR 18 | Analysis Carbon capture and storage 18 | Market view Shale gas tax break 20 Operations & Assets 20 | High viz SSE's Keadby windfarm 22 | Market view UKPN's innovation agenda 24 Customers 24 | News Southern Water says sorry about complaints 25 | Market view How to promote onshore wind 26 Markets & Trading 26 | Country report Ontario part II 15-16 October Utility Week Congress Venue: Hotel Russell, London Organised by: Faversham House Web: www.uw-congress.net/home The annual Utility Week Congress is a must-attend event for forward-thinking professionals looking to collaborate to deliver the utility business model of the future. Utility Week has gathered an unprecedented number of industry leaders to take part in the 2013 congress. The annual event brings together decision-makers in UK water, gas and electricity. Union-style debates and incisive on-stage interviews will cut through jargon, spin and fluff to get to the heart of today's issues. There will be no room for sitting on the fence at the congress, with experts arguing for and against topical motions – and the audience asked to decide. The congress is chaired by journalist and broadcaster Juliet Morris and also features a networking dinner on the evening of 15 October, enabling you to network with a who's who of the utilities industry. 30 Community 30 | Subscriber focus Steve Donkin, Jacobs 31 | Disconnector UTILITY WEEK | 4th - 10th October 2013 | 3