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4 | UTILITY WEEK | 21ST - 27TH APRIL 2017 | UTILITY WEEK Anesco battery storage plans Anesco has revealed plans to build the largest battery storage portfolio in the UK by the end of 2018. The energy com- pany intends to enter the portfolio for prequalification in the capacity market over the summer ahead of the next auction in December. 185MW Amount of battery storage Anesco plans to build by the end of 2018. 18.9MW The firm's existing portfolio. 201MW Combined capacity of eight storage projects that won contracts in National Grid's tender in August 2016. 500MW Total capacity of storage agree- ments gained in main T-4 capacity market auction in December 2016. STORY BY NUMBERS Seven days... National media Solar installations dive Solar panel installations have fallen by 80 per cent, following a massive cut in government subsidies. Families across the country have turned their back on solar energy, which saw thousands a week install panels on their roofs to cut their energy bills and sell power back to National Grid. It comes aer the Conservative government cut the tariffs providing cashback for households by 65 per cent last year. Daily Mail, 15 April Drax suffers share- holder revolt over pay Drax, owner of Britain's biggest power plant, has suffered a revolt over executive pay because of bonuses paid to its finance director. More than a third of share- holders rejected a remuneration report at its annual meeting in York yesterday. Institutional Shareholder Ser- vices (ISS), a corporate governance pressure group, had recommended investors vote against the resolu- tions because of the grant of shares to Will Gardiner, who joined the company in late 2015. The Times, 14 April Iresa suspends growth A cut-price energy supplier has stopped taking new customers aer being warned over poor customer service by the regulator. Iresa, which launched a year ago, has been listed as the cheap- est in the market on price com- parison websites and had amassed about 70,000 customers, its founder, Adeniyi Oladeji, said. Customers have complained that they cannot contact the company, with some reporting spending more than an hour waiting on the phone. Iresa has withdrawn its tariffs from sale, posting a note on its website saying that it is "not taking on new customers at the moment". The decision followed a warning by Ofgem. The Times, 14 April EDF Energy raises standard dual fuel prices by 7 per cent E DF Energy has said it will raise its standard electric- ity tariff by 9 per cent on 21 June. Standard gas prices will also rise, by 5.5 per cent. The overall impact for customers on EDF Energy's standard variable dual fuel tariff will be an increase of 7.2 per cent. The hike comes hard on the heels of an earlier price rise from the firm, which came into effect in March. Breaking the news, EDF Energy chief executive Vincent de Rivaz (pictured) said: "I know price rises are never welcome, but the industry is facing signifi- cant cost increases." To be a "sustainable and responsible business", he said EDF must make a "fair margin" that allows the company to "invest for the long term". Consumer groups responded angrily. Gillian Guy, chief execu- tive of Citizens Advice, said the move would "come as another blow to loyal customers". "People on EDF's standard variable tariffs are already feel- ing the effects of an electricity price rise that came into force last month. A fresh price hike of £78 a year will hit those already struggling," she said. Consumer watchdog Which? agreed. Alex Neill, Which? man- aging director of home products and services, labelled the price hike "disappointing". "Custom- ers sitting on EDF's standard tariff should look to switch to a better deal now," she said. EDF Energy said it would act to protect vulnerable customers when the rises came into effect by offering them a £100 rebate. It said it would also launch a new three-year fixed deal, as an alternative to SVT. JG "We have concerns in particular around the high weekly debt repayment levels made by customers of some of the independents" Meghna Tewari, head of consumer vulnerability strategy, Ofgem. See blog at: utilityweek.co.uk