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UTILITY WEEK | 6TH - 12TH OCTOBER 2017 | 5 ENERGY Scottish Power becomes latest to axe SVTs Scottish Power has said it will stop rolling customers on to standard variable tariffs (SVTs) when their fixed-price deals end. Instead, from next year, customers will be offered new fixed-rate products. The announcement comes as the big six energy suppliers scramble to scrap SVTs, which have been at the centre of recent political controversy about customer detriment. In September, Eon announced that it would replace SVTs with a one-year fixed-price deal for all new and existing smart meter customers in early 2018. And, according to press reports, Centrica is also moving to phase out its problematic standard products. Confirming that Scottish Power will also bring an end to the use of SVTs, chief executive Neil Clitheroe said the move had been a long time coming, and would mark the culmination of a range of actions taken by the supplier to improve customer engagement. "We have engaged with our customers every day and we have convinced nearly two-thirds to move from standard to fixed priced products," said Clitheroe. ELECTRICITY National Grid nails system inertia National Grid and Reactive Technologies have achieved a "world first" by accurately measuring system inertia in real time. The breakthrough will allow National Grid to respond more quickly to changes in grid frequency and make better- informed decisions about requirements for network reinforcements and ancillary services. This is turn is expected to lower costs for consumers and help the system operator to maintain the stability of the power system as more variable renewable generation comes online. System inertia describes the resistance of the power grid to changes in frequency in response to sudden load losses. It is provided by synchronous forms of generation that store energy in large rotating masses such as steam or gas turbines, which spin in unison with the frequency of the grid. 48% Proportion of utility global executives who are "well prepared" to restore normal network operation in the event of a cyber attack, according to research company Accenture. Three Number of suppliers appointed to Anglian Water's automation and control framework following a competitive tender: CEMA, Paktonic and TES Group. "This government will publish a draft bill to put a price cap on energy bills, bringing an end to rip-off energy prices once and for all" Prime minister Theresa May gives in to widespread pressure, announcing at the Conservative party conference that the government will legislate for a price cap on SVTs. UK electricity prices cheaper than most of Europe British customers pay less for electricity than most European coun- tries, according to re- search by Vouchercloud based on average annual wages. The study found UK consumers spend 2.25 per cent, or £580, of their annual wage on electricity, while Ger- many, Italy and Spain all spend a greater portion of their income on fuel. Consumers in Portugal and Bulgaria spend more than 5 per cent of their income on energy each year, but in cash terms, Danes pay nearly £1,000 a year for electricity. Country % of annual wage spent on electricity Portugal £724.13 5.75% Bulgaria £290.63 5.03% Latvia £499.50 4.96% Romania £382.50 4.80% Greece £528.00 4.45% Slovakia £455.25 4.39% Lithuania £368.25 4.03% Poland £412.13 3.61% Czech Rep £436.13 3.58% Croatia £405.75 3.54% Hungary £343.88 3.34% Estonia £375.75 3.00% Slovenia £498.75 2.90% Spain £687.00 2.80% Italy £729.38 2.62% Cyprus £484.13 2.50% Germany £913.13 2.27% UK £579.75 2.25% Belgium £813.75 2.20% Austria £621.00 2.11% Ireland £715.50 2.10% Denmark £947.63 1.68% France £521.63 1.62% Netherlands £493.13 1.59% Sweden £592.50 1.53% Finland £474.00 1.29% Luxembourg £521.63 1.09% Key = pay more = pay less Eon has completed grid connection for its 10MW battery facility at Blackburn Meadows. The facility will provide flexibility services to National Grid.