Utility Week - authoritative, impartial and essential reading for senior people within utilities, regulators and government
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UTILITY WEEK | 10TH - 16TH JULY 2015 | 7 A heatwave saw solar power supply 16 per cent of the UK's electricity demand on 3 July, according to industry sources. The news coincided with solar independence day over the weekend, which saw solar- powered homes, commercial rooftop schemes and solar farms open to the public to promote solar energy. The UK currently has 5.7GW of solar capacity, after 614MW was added in Q1 2015. "…not analytically robust…" The oil and gas industry has slammed a republished report from the Department of Food and Rural Affairs which claims fracking could lower house prices. See news, p11 £44.72/MWh The average price of power bought ahead of time on the wholesale power market fell to its lowest level since 2010 in Q2 2015. See news, p28 Energy UK's wholesale market report for May revealed that winter prices are currently well below those paid at this time last year for last winter. Last summer, the price paid on the wholesale power market for electricity delivered in winter 2014/15 was close to £50/MWh, while current trading levels peg the winter contract value at around £45/MWh, the graph shows. Lower power prices have followed bearish gas and oil trading over the past year. However, the long-term price for market players buying power one year ahead of delivery is roughly stable at around £50/MWh. For more on the record lows across the gas and power markets, see the news on page 28. Energy UK: winter electricity price is well below that paid last year Jeffs is new MOSL CEO Market Operator Services Limited (MOSL) has named utility veteran Ben Jeffs as its inaugu- ral chief executive. Jeffs has more than 25 years' expe- rience in the utilities sector, with senior roles at British Gas, Transco and National Grid. He was also the chief operations officer of First Util- ity between 2009 and 2011. New permanent secretary for Defra The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has named former Department for Transport rail executive director general Clare Moriarty as its new permanent secretary. She will take up the posi- tion over the summer, replacing Bronwyn Hill, who has been in the role since March 2011. McDonagh steps down at Smart Energy GB Baroness Margaret McDonagh has stood down from her position as non-executive chair of Smart Energy GB after completing her two-year term. A spokesman for Smart Energy GB said it is in the process of recruiting for the position. Smart Energy GB is the body charged with raising awareness of smart meters among the public and promoting their benefits. EXECUTIVE MOVES ➟ £80 £70 £60 £50 £40 £30 Average wholesale baseload UK power prices by delivery date, £/MWh 01/06/2012 01/08/2012 01/10//2012 01/12/2012 01/02/2013 01/04/2013 01/06/2013 01/08/2013 01/10//2013 01/12/2013 01/02/2014 01/04/2014 01/06/2014 01/08/2014 01/10//2014 01/12/2014 01/02/2015 01/04/2015 01/06/2015 Spot Month ahead Season ahead Year ahead Two years ahead Source: Energy UK ➡ IN ➡ OUT