Utility Week

Community AI innovation going too far? Who's afraid of the big, bad robot? Only snowflakes, it appears. That's according to Mat Shore, a Surrey-based author who writes about artificial intelligence and the future of technology. In his new book, The Seven Heavenly Habits of Innovation, he forecasts that indestructible Terminator- style robots could become the "fourth emergency service" in just 50 years. His reasoning goes that cri- ses fuel innovation and events such as the Beast from the East will force technologists to innovate to help disaster relief, and in Mr Shore's world view, an "innovation" would be a cyborg with the strength of 500 men who could li trees off cars and suchlike, operating in all weathers and on call 24/7. Somewhat improbably, as well as rescue missions, he thinks the robots may be cap- able of basic CPR and offering "human-like words of comfort". Hmm. One can't help but wonder what words it would have to utter for the average Joe to feel reassured. And given the real-world interaction between the emer- gency services and the great British public of late, it would probably return to base covered with angry Post-It notes com- plaining about it blocking the drive. Trump thump Another large ominous pres- ence that people may have incorrectly assumed would usher in the end of the world is Donald Trump – at least according to the marketing whizzkids at Ovo Energy. In an ingenious online cam- paign promoting the inevitabil- ity of renewable energy, the company has commissioned a short piece of film purporting to be sneak footage of Donald Trump driving up to a solar farm and angrily attempting to smash up one of the panels using a golf club. The punchline is that renewable energy is unstop- pable despite the best efforts of rogue American presidents. Ovo and its outspoken founder Stephen Fitzpatrick are not shy of tweaking the noses of the powerful – but thus far their efforts have been confined to giving it to the big six with both barrels in front of parlia- mentary committees. The great man hopes Mr Fitzpatrick has not bitten off more than he can chew by aiming at a man with notori- ously thin skin who never shies away from a feud, no matter how trivial. Missed minutes Advocates of the EU maintain it is a glorious project that shows what can be accomplished by unity and comradeship. Well, somewhat embar- rassingly it also serves as an example of how easily things can go wrong because of petty squabbling. A spat between Kosovo and Serbia resulted in not enough electricity being generated to maintain the 25-nation grid at a steady 50Hz, resulting in a slowdown by six minutes of all the clocks that use the grid to keep time. The problem originated because Kosovo's northern region has long refused to pay for its electricity, so the rest of Kosovo has been making up the shortfall. At the beginning of the year, in an effort to force it to pay its bills, the authorities cut off the subsidy. But it didn't budge. The grid in that part of Europe is Serbia's respon- sibility, but since it doesn't recognise the independence of Kosovo, it was damned if it was going to pick up the tab. What resulted was a stand- off and not enough generation was put into the system – and all the oven clocks were out. The UK grid also runs at 50Hz, but it's not intercon- nected in the same way, so wasn't affected – a good news Brexit story at last! 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; Associate editor: Suzanne Heneghan, t: 01342 332106, e: suzanneheneghan@ fav-house.com Features editor: Lois Vallely, t: 01342 332080, e: loisvallely@fav-house.com; Deputy news editor: Katey Pigden, t: 01342 332082, e: kateypigden@fav-house.com; Content editor: Alice Cooke, t: 01342 332102, e: alicecooke@fav-house.com; Energy correspondent: Tom Grimwood, t: 01342 332061, e: tomgrimwood@fav-house.com; Reporter: Clare Ruel, t: 01342 332069, e: clareruel@fav-house.com Policy correspondent: David Blackman, e: davidblackman@fav-house.com; Sales executive: Ben Hammond, e: benhammond@fav-house.com. t: 01342 332116; 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. 2,500 Average circulation Jan–Dec 2017 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 UTILITY WEEK | 16TH - 22ND MARCH 2018 | 31 EY Power & Utilities @EY_PowerUtility #GenderDiversity can produce better outcomes for #energy companies according to Merryn York, CEO @powerlinkqld http://spr.ly/6015DTuIh #PressForProgress #IWD2018 @EY_WFF Duncan Carter @Duncan_E_Carter 1/2 @alanwhiteheadmp has made the most amendments to government price cap bill. Most significant are 1) 30 November deadline for introduction of cap 2) £100 saving for dual fuel SVT customers. On 2) unclear if calculated on average values, or a guaranteed saving for each customer Duncan Carter @Duncan_E_Carter 2/2 @alanwhiteheadmp proposal for £100 SVT saving...£100 less than current big 6 SVT = £1,031 which is lower than current Ofgem Safeguard Tariff £1,089 Scottish Renewables @ScotRenew We are delighted to announce that Rob Forrest, Chief Executive of GreenPower, has been appointed Scottish Renewables' new Chairman. To see the full Board of Directors, visit our website: http://ow.ly/Oan230iRcZr William Marchant @richonlyinname Interesting price cap design paper from Ofgem. Its range of options seems to be increasing, not decreasing, as it runs out of time. And a form of relative cap - the basket approach - remains on the table. Dani Jordan @DaniJORDAN111 Meters do not save water. 'Smart' meters do not save water. Meters are not smart. What we do with data from meters may be smart. How you use that information to engage people may be smart. People save water. People are smart. #Water #fridayrant Waterwise @Waterwise #WaterSavingWeek runs 19th-23rd March. On Thursday 22nd March, the theme is 'saving water in your workplace' and we will be encouraging #businesses to make the most of the #retail #market, and shop around for companies that will support them with water efficiency. @Ofwat Top Tweets

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