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4 | 9th - 15th January 2015 | utILIty WEEK National media Wind output up 15 per cent in 2014 Official National Grid figures show wind power output rose by 15 per cent from the level in 2013. 28.1TWh Electricity generated by wind power in 2014, up from 24.5TWh in 2013. 9.3% Contribution made by wind to UK's total electricity supply, up from 7.8 per cent in 2013. 12% New quarterly high set in the last three months of 2014. 13% New monthly high set in December 2014 of UK's total electricity supply. New EU energy rules for TVs and gadgets EU rules will oblige new networked devices such as modems and internet-connected televisions to switch themselves off when not in use. Many gadgets are connected to the internet 24/7, using 25-100 watts while their owners sleep. But new devices sold from Thursday will fall to sleep, using a trickle of power when they are not in use. The European Commission said the move would save an average household about £32 a year. BBC News, 1 January Global campaign for green cities Environmental campaigners are hoping that 2015 will be the year when the UK's cities go green. Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Munich, Seattle, Sydney and Lima have all committed to switching to using 100 per cent clean energy by 2050, and now grassroots campaigns call- ing on civic leaders to endorse the initiative have been launched in 123 towns and cities across the UK. It is hoped that as many as 20 will pledge their commitment before the end of this year. The Guardian, 3 January US Congress grapples with energy issues Legislation approving the Keystone XL pipeline will open the first broad debate on energy policy in Congress in eight years and give the new Re- publican majority a chance to push for significant changes to President Barack Obama's agenda. GOP lawmakers, who now control the Senate and have a firmer hold on the house, are planning measures that would aim to spur greater development of fossil fuels and curtail a series of Obama's environmental regulations, includ- ing ones cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The Wall Street Journal, 5 January sTory by NUMbErs T housands of jobs could be cut from water compa- nies as they seek to make efficiency savings to comply with the price controls set out by Ofwat, trade union GMB has warned. Ofwat revealed its PR14 final determinations in December and the regulator is demanding the water industry make significant efficiency savings during the next AMP period (see p16). The GMB told Utility Week the model used by Severn Trent – which could see 500 middle managers' positions cut as it seeks to make efficiency savings for AMP6 – is likely to be adopted by the other water companies as they make the necessary savings, threatening hundreds of other roles. GMB national officer for water industry, Eamon O'Hearn Large, said: "We have a suspi- cion that the way Severn Trent is doing it will be the model. "We've seen in previous determinations companies immediately shi to make jobs redundant. That's the historical cycle of things." However, rather than being a cut in frontline roles – as he said is traditionally the case at the start of a new price control period – O'Hearn Large said "targeted cost reductions around middle management" were more likely to take place. He said this was because frontline roles had "been trimmed as far as they can go". Waterwise managing direc- tor Jacob Tompkins said the efficiency savings would be "tough" for the water companies to achieve, while utilities analyst at Whitman Howard, Angelos Anastasiou, agreed job cuts were likely. He said: "It would be extremely surprising if they didn't look at ways of trimming down the manpower costs along with the other costs." RBC Capital analyst Maurice Choy said most water compa- nies would have "significant efficiency programmes" in place to reduce expenditure, which could include reducing the number of middle managers and allowing "those in lower ranks to move up". MB Water sector faces jobs cull, warns GMB £7.85/hr Yorkshire Water and its parent company The Kelda Group have agreed to pay its staff at least the living wage. "Every pound spent must deliver enhanced security of supply" Labour shadow energy minister Tom Greatrex on the "flawed" capacity market model. For more on the first UK capacity auction, see p20 Seven days...