Utility Week - authoritative, impartial and essential reading for senior people within utilities, regulators and government
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4 | UTILITY WEEK | 7TH - 13TH APRIL 2017 | UTILITY WEEK Water firms reverse complaints spike Written complaints to Southern Water, Bournemouth Water, Welsh Water and Affinity Water fell in the last quarter of 2016, reversing an "alarming" complaints spike during 2015/16, according to figures reported to the Consumer Council for Water. 53% Amount by which complaints to Southern fell in the quarter. 35% Drop in complaints to Bournemouth. 18% complaints down at Welsh Water. 13% Reduction reported by Affinity. 10 Number of water firms reporting a rise in complaints for 2015/16. STORY BY NUMBERS Seven days... National media Power plants step up cyber-security Britain's airports and nuclear power stations have been told to tighten their defences against terrorist attacks in the face of increased threats to electronic security systems. Security services have issued a series of alerts in the past week warning that terrorists may have developed ways of bypassing safety checks. Intelligence agencies believe that ISIS and other terrorist groups have developed ways to plant explosives in laptops and mobile phones that can evade airport security screening methods. Sunday Telegraph, 2 April EDF and Areva 'knew about flawed reactor components' EDF and Areva knew of problems at a French factory that makes nuclear reactor components as long as 12 years ago, according to documents revealed in the French media. Nevertheless, the state-owned companies decided to continue making critical parts for a new nuclear reactor at Flamanville in Normandy at the factory, which later was found to contain safety flaws. The station at Flamanville, the forerunner for the plant under construction at Hinkley Point in Somerset, is heavily delayed and over budget. The Times, 1 April Ineos lobbying on climate change costs Anglo-Swiss chemicals firm Ineos is leading an industry lobbying attempt to avoid paying for the cost of decarbonising Britain's economy. Documents released under free- dom of information rules reveal that Ineos is pushing the government to use Brexit as a chance to exempt the chemicals sector entirely from climate policy costs. The Guardian, 3 April World's largest competitive water market officially opens A er years of planning and preparation, the world's largest competitive water market officially opened on 1 April, allowing more than 1.2 million businesses, charities and public sector bodies to choose their water and waste water retailer. The market is expected to deliver up to £200 million of benefits to the economy and water customers over the next 30 years through improved service and value for money. Twentytwo retailers are currently licensed to operate in the market. These include new entrants, incumbents, and two large business customers that have applied to selfsupply. Environment secretary Andrea Leadsom welcomed the launch of the new market, call ing it a "historic milestone". The Department for Environ ment, Food and Rural Affairs has worked with Ofwat, which will regulate the new market, and Market Operator Services Limited – which will operate the market on behalf of its water company members – to ensure a smooth transition for customers. Ofwat chief executive Cath ryn Ross said: "This is the single biggest change to the water sector since privatisation and I am hugely optimistic about the changes that lie ahead and the benefits they will bring to customers." However, she added that Ofwat would maintain effective oversight and step in to safe guard customers if needed. To coincide with the market opening, Utility Week has launched a fortnightly publica tion charting developments in the market, Water.Retail (see p28). LV "[Ofgem] have been sending out letters and they don't normally do that unless they are getting edgy." Tony Thornton, head of transformation, Gemserv, ahead of the P272 non-half-hourly meter changes on 1 April.