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4 | 11th - 17th July 2014 | utIlIty WEEK National media CMA probe timetable the government has published the administrative timetable for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation. 2014 Jul-Sep Initial information requests; initial submissions from main and third parties; publication of initial issues statement Sep-Oct Site visits, issuing of questionnaires and hearings with third parties 2015 Jan/Feb Publication of working papers and annotated issues statement Feb/Mar Main party hearings and deadline for all parties' responses and submissions before provisional findings May-Jun Notify provisional findings and remedies (if required) 25 Dec Statutory deadline and publishing of final report UK's geology will pose fracking challenges The UK's complex geology will pose challenges for fracking companies wanting to avoid water contamina- tion in some parts of the country, according to the British Geological Survey (BGS). New maps of under- ground Britain released by BGS and the Environment Agency show almost half the area of England and Wales where major drinking water aquifers are located have shale gas deposits below them. However, the maps also suggest the vertical distance between the water and the gas is sometimes several kilometres, making water pollution unlikely. The Guardian Glasgow low emission zones promise 'broken' Environmentalists have accused Commonwealth Games organisers of reneging on promises to create low emission zones around venues. Glasgow 2014 has been recognised for efforts to reduce carbon emis- sions and waste and to promote healthy living. But Friends of the Earth said pledges to ban the most polluting vehicles had been broken. Glasgow 2014 admitted vehicles fell short of low emission targets, but said it was committed to sustainability. BBC Grid chief calls for more interconnectors Energy prices for British consumers would fall by £1 billion a year if electricity interconnectors be- tween continental Europe and the UK were doubled by 2020, accord- ing to National Grid. "The £1 billion price saving could be achieved for an investment of £3bn," said Steve Holliday, chief executive of National Grid. Financial Times StOry by NUMbErS T he estimated consumer benefit of the smart meter rollout "should exceed" government predictions, accord- ing to Ofgem chief executive Dermot Nolan. The government has pre- dicted a cost benefit of £17 bil- lion for consumers by 2030 as a result of the nationwide smart meter rollout, but Nolan said this was a "relatively conserva- tive" estimate and he expected the benefit to consumers to be higher than that. He said these benefits would be achieved through greater consumer confidence and engagement in the market, and through the development of dynamic tariffs from 2017. Nolan also said he was confident the rollout would be achieved on time and on budget. The rollout should be com- pleted by 2020 and is predicted to cost £11 billion. The Ofgem boss said "we will make sure that happens". Nolan said this would be achieved by monitoring to ensure that the suppliers were on target throughout the rollout period. "We are looking at this, not just rolling up to 2020 and seeing if suppliers have actu- ally delivered, but we will look year in year out for four years preceding. "We will be monitoring all suppliers to ensure they deliver on time, and potentially taking enforcing action against people who don't deliver." Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Smart Energy GB (formerly the Smart Meter Cen- tral Delivery Body) said "effec- tive management" was required to ensure the rollout remained on time and on budget. He said the rollout was an "unprecedented infrastructure challenge" and a "complex delivery project", but that he was confident that it would be achieved on budget. MB Seven days... Smart meter benefits will be 'bigger than thought' €300m Amount the European Commission has confirmed it will award to the proposed White Rose carbon capture and storage project in Yorkshire through its NER300 competition "We are asking the prime minister to intervene" Solar Trade Association's chief executive Paul Barwell on the group's decision to organise a letter to David Cameron, signed by more than 150 companies, calling for continued support for the solar sector