Utility Week - authoritative, impartial and essential reading for senior people within utilities, regulators and government
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GAS 13 | Political Agenda the big six 24 | Market view Maturing apprenticeships WATER 23 | Pipe up Michelle Lewis and Maria Vardy 25 | News Customers will still pay for super sewer 28 | Market view Retail competition in water means firms will have to improve service ELECTRICITY 8 | Interview Mark Somerset, Intergen 19 | News Ofgem balks at balancing proposal 20 | Investor view Bruce Huber and Gerard Reid Energy 6 | Opinion Juliet Davenport, Good Energy 13 | News No price regulation 'by the back door' 14 | Market view Pros and cons of an annual energy review 16 | Market view EU support for renewables and capacity mechanisms 20 | Analysis UBS's alternative manifesto 25 | I am the customer Andrew Buckley 26 | Analysis Is Eco hitting a brick wall? This week Leader Ellen Bennett EDF puts its money where Cameron's mouth is Finally, some smart marketing from one of the big six. EDF's announcement of a 3.9 per cent price rise this week, explicitly linked to its being able to return the savings it expects to make from a cut in Eco costs, is exactly what David Cameron wants to hear. This not only gives the prime minister reassurance that rolling back green taxes will create savings to be passed on to customers, it also publicly gives him the credit – a political must-have following Ed Miliband's proposed price freeze. It is now up to the rest of the big six to follow suit, demonstrating unequivocally what a cut in hidden taxes on energy bills will mean for the consumer. That's easier said than done, however, given the baffling complexity of energy company accounts. When Ovo chief executive Stephen Fitzpatrick told a recent select committee hearing "we're all trying to find out where the money is going, but you never get to find it", he wasn't kidding. A glance at the recent segmental statements from Ofgem shows just how futile the exercise of comparing energy company accounts with one another or other sectors can be. For example, SSE was tipped to report a loss in its domestic supply business this week, as Utility Week went to press, but given that the larger part of its 2012/13 profit was made in its generation business, this might not be quite the hit it first seems. Doing the right thing isn't enough to rebuild public trust: companies need to be seen to be doing the right thing as well. This means explaining how and where the business makes its money, and in a way that a layman can easily understand. In the water sector, Ofwat has cottoned on to this with its recent guidance on corporate governance and transparency. Water companies would do well to follow its advice to the letter as the "cost of living" campaign widens to include water bills. Meanwhile, across the pond, Google has stuck another toe in the water of energy, with an $1.14 million cash injection for energy management start-up Building Robotics. The company helps businesses manage and control their energy use: supplying that energy is not a million miles away. Could the internet giant be moving closer to an energy supply play? One thing's for sure: right now, UK customers would welcome it with open arms. Ellen Bennett, Editor ellen.bennett@fav-house.com 4 | Seven days 6 | Opinion Juliet Davenport, Good Energy 8 | Interview Mark Somerset, vice president and general manager, Intergen 13 Policy & Regulation 13 | News No price regulation 'by the back door' 13 | Politics Mathew Beech writes 14 | Market view The pros and cons of an annual energy review 15 | Market view EU support for renewables and capacity mechanisms 19 Finance & Investment 19 | News Ofgem balks at cost of balancing proposal 20 | Investor view Bruce Huber and Gerard Reid from Alexa Capital 20 | Analysis UBS's alternative manifesto 22 Operations & Assets 22 | High viz Capital Safety height worker 24 | Market view Maturing apprenticeships 27 Customers Utility Week's annual Utility Industry Achievement Awards will once again be held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London's Mayfair. Put 9 December in your diaries for the biggest events date in the utility calendar. More than 1,200 of the great and the good of the utility industry will meet to toast the winners and share a glamorous evening of dancing and entertainment accompanied by a celebrity host. This year's categories are: Capital Project Management Award; Community Initiative of the Year; Customer Care Award; Digital Utilities Awards; Environment Award; IT Initiative of the Year; Marketing Initiative of the Year; Staff Development Award; Supply Chain Excellence Award; and Team of the Year. 9 December, Grosvenor House Hotel, London Website: www.utilityweekawards.co.uk 25 | News Customers will still pay for super sewer 26 | Analysis Is Eco hitting a brick wall? 28 | Market view Water competition means raising your service game 30 Community 30 | Subscriber focus Martin Gillen, NI Water 31 | Disconnector UTILITY WEEK | 15th - 21st November 2013 | 3