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4 | 8TH - 14TH JANUARY 2016 | UTILITY WEEK National media Wind power output hits new highs in 2015 Recent data from National Grid shows that last year was a record one for wind out- put in the UK. 11% of the total generation mix in 2015. 1.5% increase on last year. 13% The new quarterly record from Q4. 17% of generation in December, the new monthly record. 20% in the final week of the year, the new weekly record. Climate change could hamper generation Shis in water temperature, or the availability of fresh water due to climate change, could lead to reductions in electricity production capacity in more than two-thirds of the world's power plants between 2040 and 2069, said a study from an Austrian research centre. Reuters, 4 January North Sea oil and gas production revives A 15-year trend of falling oil and gas production in the North Sea has been reversed, according to the UK energy industry trade body. Oil & Gas UK, which represents more than 500 companies working in the offshore industry, said output from the UK continental shelf in 2015 rose between 7 and 8 per cent compared with the previous year. Daily Telegraph, 4 January Southern US prepares for flooding surge Southern US states are bracing themselves for major flooding as surging waters that have inundated parts of Missouri and Illinois head south down the Mississippi river. In December, the Mississippi, Meramec and Missouri rivers burst their banks. In some areas, the Mis- sissippi is 40 above its flood mark. Guardian, 4 January Cairn Energy soars on Senegal appraisal Cairn Energy shares rose by 5.7 per cent aer it revealed the success of an appraisal well, offshore Senegal. It said the first of three planned wells to evaluate its November 2014 discovery, had encountered high quality oil flowing at a good rate. Proactive Investors, 4 January STORY BY NUMBERS Utilities braced for more storms and flooding Seven days... A s the UK braced itself for further storms last week, water companies and energy networks worked around the clock to help with emer- gency flood relief efforts. Severe weather battered the north of the country over the Christmas period, forcing York- shire Water to dra in help from fellow water companies Wessex Water, Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent Water and Welsh Water to help battle floods. Meanwhile, neighbouring United Utilities mobilised hun- dreds of engineers and special- ist crews on the ground, and pledged to suspend the water bills of customers forced from their homes or businesses. Scottish Hydro Electric Power remains on alert, working with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, and sandbag- ging substations in areas it expects to be badly affected by further rainfall. The damage from the storms is expected to cost utilities millions of pounds. Northern Powergrid's initial assessment of repair work aer Storm Desmond at the beginning of December, when more than 70,000 customers lost supply, is in the region of £650,000, with a further £200,000 expected to be paid out in compensation. SP Energy Networks said it expects to pay compensation of £75 each to no more than 100 customers. Analysts have pre- dicted that United Utilities could face costs of up to £50 million. However, while utilities' focus is on active response and awaiting further extreme weather, the full cost of the clean-up has yet to be deter- mined. LV and LD See analysis, p27 "Government has partially listened" Solar Trade Association (STA) chief executive Paul Barwell on the feed-in tariff cuts. See news, p18. £1m The record-breaking fine faced by Thames Water for polluting the Grand Union Canal in Hertford- shire with sewage. Photo: PA