Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | 18TH - 24TH MARCH 2016 | 5 British carmaker Morgan is to build an electric three-wheeler, the Morgan EV3. The electric car will weigh less than 500kg, use a 20kWh lithium battery and is designed after "1930s aero-engine racing cars". This will be the first time Morgan has used carbon panels in the body construction of any of its cars. Morgan Technologies managing director Steve Morris said: "The EV3 is an exciting opportunity for our customers to enjoy the unique Morgan driving experience… while remaining conscientious towards the future of our planet." 7.7% Amount by which Firmus Energy announced it would reduce gas prices for customers in the "Ten Towns" area of Northern Ireland "I will not engage EDF in this project before these conditions are met" In a letter to staff, EDF chief executive Jean-Bernard Levy warns that Hinkley Point C will not go ahead without the French government's financial support CMA probe a 'complete waste of time': Ovo Ovo Energy has called the Com- petition and Markets Authority's (CMA) investigation into the energy market "a complete waste of time" following the provisional decision on remedies. Responding to the findings, Ovo's founder and chief executive, Stephen Fitzpatrick, said: "The last two years have been a complete waste of time and taxpayers' money. Some of the CMA's nonsen- sical ideas will actually do more harm than good to customers." Ovo slams CMA's plans for data sharing Ovo Energy has also slammed the CMA's plans to force suppliers to share data on customers who have been on a standard variable tariff for more than three years. An Ovo spokesperson said: "We have grave concerns that the sharing of customer data, even with strict controls on data protection, will result in many customers receiving unwanted marketing information that may further dissuade them from switching suppliers." First Utility challenges 'low' CMA figures First Utility has claimed that energy customers are overcharged by £3.4 billion a year – twice the sum the CMA named when it set out its provisional remedies for the energy market this week. Chief customer officer for the supplier, Ed Kamm, said he was "surprised" the £1. 7 billion figure given in the CMA's report was "so low". "There are some quite big numbers, £1.7 billion worth of sav- ing opportunity per year over the past four years," he said. "Actually, I'm surprised it's that low, because we recorded a number of £3.4 bil- lion and right now the gap between the cheapest tariffs and the stand- ard tariffs is £300." See analysis, p26 CMA INQUIRY Electricity distribution model 'no longer fit for purpose' Consulting firm Accenture has carried out a survey of 85 utilities industry executives across 18 countries, in which almost half (45 per cent) of respondents worldwide, and 64 per cent in Europe, claimed that the traditional electricity distribution model is no longer fit for purpose. The report found 56 per cent expect grid faults to increase by 2020 as a result of distributed renewable generation. And improving econom- ics could make electricity storage another key disruptor, with 32 per cent of executives expect- ing it to cause an increase in grid faults, and as many as 77 per cent investing or planning to invest in storage solutions in the next ten years. 77% Utilities executives surveyed who are already investing or plan to invest in storage solutions in the next ten years. Source: Accenture Digitally Enabled Grid research programme, 2016 64% European utilities executives surveyed who report that the traditional electricity distribution system is no longer fit for purpose.

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