Utility Week

"Onshore wind has effectively been killed off by government policy" Ecotricity founder and chief executive Dale Vince 4 | 15TH - 21ST DECEMBER 2017 | UTILITY WEEK STORY BY NUMBERS Seven days... National media Winds will die down as climate warms Windfarms are key to tackling climate change but warming will significantly cut the power of the wind across northern mid-latitudes, including the US, the UK and the Mediterranean, according to new research. However, some places, including eastern Australia, will see winds pick up. The research is the first global study to project the impact of temperature rises on wind energy. It found big changes by the end of the century in many of the places host- ing large numbers of turbines. The Guardian, 12 December Price cap savings 'unknown' The government has made no estimate of how much its proposed energy price cap could save house- holds, despite Theresa May's claim that it would cut bills by up to £100 a year. The prime minister has vowed to bring an "end to rip-off energy prices once and for all". The plan to set a maximum price for gas and electricity would apply to about 11 million households that are on expensive standard tariffs and are not already protected by existing price caps. The Times, 11 December Baggs to advise Thames supplier The former chief executive of Thames Water is advising one of its biggest suppliers – prompting concern over potential conflicts of interest. Martin Baggs, who was paid £2 million as boss of Thames Water in 2015 before quitting last year, is understood to have been advising the American engineer CH2M for several months. CH2M has worked closely with Thames Water for years, and is managing the construction of its £4.2 million Thames Tideway super- sewer, which runs beneath London. The Sunday Times, 10 December Rachel Fletcher appointed chief executive of Ofwat O fwat has appointed Rachel Fletcher as its new chief executive to take over from Cathryn Ross, who will be departing for BT. Fletcher will join the water regulator from Ofgem where she is senior partner for consumers and competition and sits on the Ofgem board. Having joined the energy regulator in 2005, she has also held the role of partner for dis- tribution, in which she led the electricity price control review and introduced the Low Carbon Networks Fund. Prior to working for Ofgem, Fletcher worked as a consult- ant advising public and private sector organisations around the world on energy strategy and policy. Announcing the appointment this week, Jonson Cox, chairman of Ofwat, said: "This is such an exciting time for Ofwat and that was reflected in the strength of the candidates who applied to be our new chief executive. "Rachel's impressive track record and experience in regula- tion of network and customer- focused businesses, alongside her clear leadership qualities, make her an ideal chief execu- tive for Ofwat. Fletcher will join Ofwat on 8 January, while Ross's last day will be 19 January. Fletcher said: "Ofwat has set a high ambition for what the sector should deliver for custom- ers, and meeting this challenge is what makes the role so excit- ing." KP Economy Energy at bottom of cus- tomer service table Economy Energy has finished bot- tom of the Citizens Advice's league table of energy suppliers for the second consecutive quarter. 1.8 Economy Energy's score out of 5 18th Spark Energy dropped eleven places 1.85 Spark Energy's score 4.4 at the other end of the table, First Utility's score Mid-period review could tackle DNO profits, says Ofgem Electricity network profits may be subjected to increased scrutiny as part of a possible mid-period review of the RIIO ED-1 price control, Ofgem has revealed. The regulator has launched a consultation on whether to conduct a review and, if so, what issues it should cover. The consultation was first announced in June, when Ofgem confirmed the timetable for the process in a strategy decision for RIIO ED-1. The decision document said the review would be limited in scope and was not intended to be "a mini price review". However, Ofgem said it is now considering expanding the remit to include issues relating to "financial and incentive performance and design".

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