Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/748539
NETWORK / 12 / NOVEMBER 2016 W hen the energy system went through privatisa- tion, part of the vision was that regulated natural monopolies would one day be open to competition. To date, progress on this has been slow; but arguably – through the increasing levels of distributed generation, the need for local balancing and the use of energy storage – networks could be displaced by companies that The other half supply many of the services they have traditionally provided. At the same time, networks could find themselves barred from certain markets to allow competition to come into play, such as in energy storage. If this does happen, more of these types of activities could be undertaken by the competitive arms of the network companies. Ian Smyth, the new director of one of one such business, UK Power Networks Services, sat down with Network to explore the potential role for his com- pany in owning storage assets in UKPN's stead; opportunities for competing for distribution as- sets if competition is brought to the market; and how, as DNOs start the transition to DSO, his competitive business could provide important lessons. As UKPN adapts to increas- ing amounts of distributed generation, changing demand and innovative technologies to keep the lights on across Lon- don and the South East, UKPN Services is competing primarily across three markets – defence, industrial and commercial, and Fresh to his role as director at UKPN Services, Ian Smyth gives Network an insight to operating in a competitive market and how regulated businesses can expect far more interaction with his company in the future. IntervIew