Utility Week

UTILITY Week 2nd June 2017

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Community Not a prayer It's been a busy week for everyone's favourite leader of the free world, Donald J Trump. Disconnector took great pleasure in watching the US president rub shoulders with Pope Francis at the Vatican. Much has been made of the photos of Trump and the pontiff, not least because the pope gives an ever-so-slight impression that he would rather be somewhere else. But the pièce de résistance was Trump's tweet aerwards: "The new pope is a humble man, very much like me, which probably explains why I like him so much!" Visiting New York many years ago, Disconnector heard the mighty David Letterman describe Trump to a Late Show audience. The talk show host used plenty of words, but humble was definitely not one of them. Funny that. Bandwagons Last month it was Manchester City football club; this time around Disconnector is proud to welcome the virtual band Gorillaz to the energy party, following the group's announcement of a new collaboration with Eon UK. The unlikely partnership was announced in a blaze of publicity aer the unveiling of a new solar and battery storage-powered film, which features the Gorillaz track We got the power from their forthcoming album Humanz. The energy supplier will also be launching its very own Kong Solar Studio in Margate later this month, which will be powered by a solar and battery system. One of the band's founders, fictional bassist Murdoc Niccals, said – and Disconnector quotes – the new studio "not only lets us create more mind-blowing music, it also saves the planet". A great day's work for an imaginary musical luvvie, then. Pollution sucks At the time of writing, temperatures around the UK are once again predicted to soar as the nation collectively gears up for the mythical great British summer. Naturally, when the sun comes out, Disconnector's thoughts turn to one thing – ice cream. If you want to keep this scribe happy, a 99 flake will do just fine. But one thing Disconnector will definitely not be reaching for are the ice lollies that have been developed by students at the National Taiwan University of Arts to draw attention to the problems with the island's water sources. The students have created 100 "polluted water popsicles" (yes, you read that correctly) from local sources for a YouTube video. In true Top Of The Pops fashion, the not-so-nice lollies have been ranked from the dirtiest to the cleanest. According to the students, the rankest-ranked popsicle is made with water from Keelung Harbour. You can check out the rest online, although Disconnector would advise against eating anything while watching the video. Model citizens And finally, Disconnector salutes the awesome Lego Group, for having reached its target of running entirely on renewable energy three years ahead of schedule. The company's latest investment is a 25 per cent stake in the Burbo Bank Extension windfarm off the coast of Liverpool, which was officially opened last month. The toy manufacturer could probably have reached its renewable energy goal even quicker, but you know what those Lego instruction booklets are like. They take forever and there's always a couple of bits le over… Disconnector Editor, Utility Week, and content director, Utilities: Ellen Bennett, t: 01342 332084, e: ellenbennett@fav-house.com; Deputy editor: Jane Gray, t: 01342 332087, e: janegray@ fav-house.com; Insights editor: Mathew Beech, t: 01342 332082, e: mathewbeech@fav-house. com; News editor: Lois Vallely, t: 01342 332080, e: loisvallely@fav-house.com; Senior reporter: Tom Grimwood, t: 01342 332061, e: tomgrimwood@fav-house.com; Reporter: Josh Downes, t: 01342 332102, e: joshdownes@fav-house.com; Policy correspondent: David Blackman, e: davidblackman@fav-house.com; Business development manager: Kevin Pearce, t: 01342 332116, e; kevinpearce@fav-house.com; Business development executive: Nigel Searle, t: 01342 332009, e: nigelsearle@fav-house.com; Conference sponsorship manager: Sophie Abbott, t: 01342 332062, e; sophieabbott@fav-house.com; Publisher: Amanda Barnes, e: amandabarnes@fav-house.com. General enquiries: 01342 332000; Membership enquiries: Peter Bissell, t: 01342 332057, e: peterbissell@ fav-house.com. ISSN: 1356-5532. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. Printed by: Buxton Press, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6AE. 3,580 Average circulation Jan–Dec 2015 Membership subscriptions: UK £669 per year. Overseas £781 per year. Contact Peter Bissell on: 01342 332057 Utility Week is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK's magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors' Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint please contact the editor, Ellen Bennett, at ellenbennett@fav-house.com. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors' Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk Julie Minns @ElectricJoules Basil Scarsella: "We must continue to collaborate and respond to customer demands." #UWL17 MOSL @MOSL "Switches are happening and the market is fully open." Our market performance director Steve Arthur speaking at #UWL17. Matt Dolman @MattDolman Simon Innis [VINCIEnergiesUK] is right, energy storage great chance for UK plc, but it needs the right Gov support and innovation. #UWL17 Nick Mabey @Mabeytweet Stupid but unsurprising that UK blocking EU laws that lower energy prices as UK missing its own efficiency goals. Richard Nourse @RichardHCNourse Energy efficiency best value way of cutting CO2 emissions, and utilities well placed to deliver using market. Shame on you @beisgovuk. Ann Robinson @AnnRobinson8 Feel positive because after election whatever the outcome we can expect more cons. protection alongside privatisation in the utility sector. Jonathan Gaventa @jonathangaventa Very blunt: UK is out of the EIB. UK was largest recipient of EIB energy lending in last five yrs, so a big deal both for EIB and UK energy sector. Iain Turner @IainTurner5 Not a big deal – govt can easily lend cheaply like EIB if it wants to (a big if). CfD price excludes EIB, so it's all upside for equity. Daniel Walker-Nolan @DWN85 #SmartMeter rollout shld deliver good consumer outcome. 43% of people say they would not take an early version if aware of switching problem. Top Tweets UTILITY WEEK | 2ND - 8TH JUNE 2017 | 31

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