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NETWORK / 12 / JUNE 2017 UTILIT Y WEEK LIVE F lexibility and transforma- tion were the headline themes for Utility Week Live 2017. As leaders and deci- sion makers from the utilities sector thronged the halls of the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, a rich variety of perspectives on what these challenges mean for businesses and regulators were expressed, challenged, and scrutinised across targeted seminar theatres and conference sessions. There was controversy – with speakers criticising past and present price control processes for regulated monopolies – and consensus – on the need to accelerate innovation across all utility types to meet escalat- ing customer expectations and environmental pressures. Also, there was acknowl- edgment of the critically tense political context in which these discussions are taking place. The shadows cast over the sec- tor by the general election, the parties' manifesto pledges and the UK's departure from the EU were palpable. But despite the uncertainty, there was determination to get on with the business of creating new business models and ex- ploiting new markets to deliver smart, better utility services for customers. The ability of utilities to adopt new technologies strategi- cally is integral to this plan for nimble transformation and delegates at the show demon- strated a keen appetite to learn more about the exciting poten- tial of advances in areas such as machine learning, artificial intelligence and blockchain. There was an acute aware- ness that deploying such tech- nologies effectively will mean attracting unconventional skills to the sector – a tall order for firms that struggle with public trust, and will have to compete for talent with desirable tech and engineering brands. In the light of the recent mal- ware assault on the NHS and the Manchester bombing, there was also a strong message that utili- ties must be confident that new technologies and connectivity will enhance resilience and security, not compromise it. The diversity and detail of the ideas exchanged at this year's show stretches further than a few pages can possibly hope to review. Here we present some snapshots, but look out for our upcoming special reports on flexibility – new models, new markets and transformation – accelerating innovation which will explore insights at greater length. N Despite political uncertainty, utility leaders at Utility Week Live were determined to get on with the process of creating new business models and exploiting new markets to deliver better utility services for customers. Time for transformation What's in the Utility Week Live round up? u HyDeploy's ambitions for gas grid decarbonisation u Leaders define the utility of the future u Transformation in utilities