Utility Week articles from February 2008

Utility Week archives from February 2008

Features.
February 1, 2008... The UK needs to clear the way for heat The renewable energy targets are a positive step, according to Andrew Perkins, a director in Ernst & Young's renewable energy team. But "the government needs to address the lack of clear legislative...

ENVIRONMENTCarbon capture 'will be essential' in long term.(Features)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The European Commission said in a proposal published with the draft Renewable Energy Directive that global carbon dioxide emissions must be halved by 2050 and that such an ambition was not possible without carbon capture and storage (CCS). ...

The powers that be.(Features)(competition law)
February 1, 2008... Charges of unfair pricing dog incumbent firms, yet regulators are often reluctant to use their competition powers . Hugh Kelly explains why There is no doubt about it, the UK's utility regulators rely on their sectoral powers rather than...

ENERGYNpower disconnects the most customers.(News)(Npower Ltd. is named as domestic energy supplier with the worst record by Office of Gas and Electricity Markets)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... by Roger Milne Npower has been named by Ofgem as the domestic energy supplier with the worst record of the big six in terms of disconnections and helping domestic customers who risk going into debt over their bills. A company spokesman...

Features.(Calendar)
February 1, 2008... THE 1 February Final day of second European Union Sustainable Energy Week 6 February British Energy's annual Talkpower event, London Half-day conference on marine energy, hosted by the Caithness Energy Alliance, Edinburgh...

Features.
February 1, 2008... ENERGY Denmark postpones Dong sale again The Danish government has responded to the downturn in global financial markets by intervening and again delaying Dong Energy's initial public offering (IPO). The sale was scheduled to take...

GASRWE to contest ruling over gas price rises.(Features)
February 1, 2008... A Dortmund court has ruled that gas price rises introduced by regional supplier RWE Westfalen-Weser-Ems between 2003 and 2006 are invalid. The civil court in Germany found in favour of a consumers' lobby in North Rhine-Westphalia that...

WATEREIC calls for a halt to boom and bust.(News)(Environmental Industries Commission)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Water companies' 25-year strategic direction statements will not halt the boom/bust woes of suppliers to the sector, the Environmental Industries Commission (EIC) has warned. Responding to Ofwat's 2010-15 price limit consultation, the...

eNVIRONMENTUK gives thumbs up to cap and trade reform.(Features)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The UK power generation sector has largely welcomed the European Commission's well-trailed proposals to overhaul Europe's ground-breaking Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The draft legislative package unveiled last week proposed that the...

energyEU sets the pace on renewables.(Features)
February 1, 2008... by Janet Wood New targets for renewable energy in Europe will be "a real commitment, but not a bad deal", according to European Commission president Manuel Barroso. He was speaking as he presented the Commission's proposed Renewable Energy...

water'Limit capex' to improve efficiency.(News)(Scottish Water )(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Scottish Water should limit the size of its capital programme for 2010-14 to [pounds sterling]400-450 million a year, about [pounds sterling]200 million a year less than at present, if it is to deliver it efficiently, according to a report...

Ready to go?(Features)
February 1, 2008... The Energy Bill seeks to encourage investment, but it conceals some important strategic omissions, says Roger Barnard Like the name of the town running through a stick of Blackpool rock, one word runs through the government's Energy Bill...

eNERGYTories push for waste disposal terms in Bill.(News)
February 1, 2008... by Roger Milne The Conservative Party wants the government's Energy Bill amended so that no new nuclear plant can begin operating until the business secretary has approved a waste programme and the location for the proposed site of a...

electricityGrid operators told to give renewables special treatment.(Features)
February 1, 2008... Language in the European Commission's directive on renewable energy could require grid operators to take renewable energy in preference to other types, as well as to move renewable energy projects up the queue for connections to the grid. The...

News.
February 1, 2008... Pile of Pod: north of the border they are going literally bananas for Pod, the environmentally friendly, peat-free compost produced at Scottish Water's Cumbernauld facility. Recently, it has been recycling tonnes of bananas into compost...

Ofgem: EDDs a pain in the 'ass'.(News)(Office of Gas and Electricity Markets)(electricity display devices)
February 1, 2008... You just know issues are beginning to get well and truly cooked once the protagonists start to go over the top verbally. Is this beginning to happen with smart meters? Disconnector thinks so. There was a classic case recently when energy...

News.(employees of Npower Ltd. raises money for Macmillan Cancer Support)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Oh matron: Npower workers have clocked up a magical [pounds sterling]2 million in terms of dosh they've raised for Macmillan Cancer Support. Some of the money has been used to provide 12 specialist Macmillan nurses, fund the charity's...

News.(food and drink firms to cut water usage)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... WATER Food and drink firms act to cut usage Twenty-one food and drink manufacturers have agreed to implement water savings that could cut their total demand by 140 million litres a day. The companies signed the "Federation House...

PAN-UTILITYAnother hurdle for GdF/Suez merger.(Features)(Gaz de France and SUEZ S.A.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The long-awaited merger between French utility giants Suez and Gaz de France (GdF) had another setback last week when a judge ruled that the companies had to accede to a union request to divulge further information about the deal. The...

News.
February 1, 2008... Wheel deal: Connections provider Core, a subsidiary of ScottishPower, has won a contract to provide utility connections for parts of the site that will host the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014. Core will provide connections for the Sport...

WATERCharges to be fair and sustainable.(News)
February 1, 2008... Regulator Ofwat has begun consulting on its revised approach to setting charges in the 2009 price review. The four principles underpinning Ofwat's stance are: lfairness - customers in similar circumstances ought to pay similar charges...

ELECTRICITYGerman nuclear ban threatens generation gap.(Features)
February 1, 2008... Germany could face a power generation shortfall by 2015 if it sticks with the current nuclear phase-out policy, according to a report by German research institute Trendresearch. The report said 40GW of capacity would be lost by 2020, by...

energyConocoPhillips ponders future of CHP plant.(News)
February 1, 2008... ConocoPhillips is reviewing the future of its combined heat and power plant at Immingham on Humberside. Analysts believe that a sale would net the US energy company at least [pounds sterling]500 million. John Thornton, general manager and...

Features.(smart energy metering policy)
February 1, 2008... Will suppliers pay the bill for smart meters? The government, it says, remains "committed" to smart energy metering, yet it is tight-lipped as to exactly how it sees this commitment being met. The clamour for a clear policy steer on...

ENERGYEuropean regulator must be independent.(Features)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... by Janet Wood An effective Europe-wide energy regulator would require more powers than the European Commission has anticipated. The proposed Agency for the Co-operation of Energy Regulators must be "able to make binding decisions...

Suppliers and social tariffs.(Features)
February 1, 2008... An assessment of the social tariffs of the big six domestic energy suppliers carried out by consultancy Cornwall Energy has highlighted the wide variation between them. British Gas has emerged as the most responsible supplier, by a big margin....

WATERMinisters need to get to grips with NI Water.(News)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... by Steve Hobson Northern Ireland Water (NIW) has given a guarded welcome to the second report from the Independent Water Review Panel set up by the Northern Ireland Executive to advise ministers on the long-term approach to water and...

Features.
February 1, 2008... EUROPE Implications for western utilities of political manoeuvres in Russia and the liberalisation of its generation sector INTERVIEW Duncan Sedgwick spells out how energy retailers are beefing up their complaints handling...

Going nuclear.(Features)
February 1, 2008... Steve Hobson seeks initial feedback from nuclear new-build's likely big players on the government's long-awaited policy announcement The government's announcement that Britain does, after all, need to at least replace its existing nuclear...

electricityOffshore link scheme 'too complex'.(News)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Developers of offshore windfarms have voiced concern that the government's proposals for offshore electricity transmission are so complex that they will delay connection of their projects to the onshore grid. Critics fear that delays will...

Windfall won't mean blackouts.(News)
February 1, 2008... Sir: In his recent Soapbox (Utility Week, 25 January), AEP chief executive David Porter is wrong to say power plant closures and blackouts will follow if some of the generators' ETS windfall went to the fuel poor. And to claim Ofgem has...

PAN-UTILITYUtilities face severe pollution penalties.(News)
February 1, 2008... by Karma Ockenden Utilities that pollute the environment or otherwise fall foul of their green obligations could be subject to new, potentially hefty fines under the Regulatory, Enforcement and Sanctions Bill. The bill is being...

News.
February 1, 2008... Utilities' staid image compared with more glamorous sectors can be a problem when it comes to graduate recruitment . By Kathy Oxtoby Image conscious Anyone responsible for attracting graduates to work for utility companies these days...

MPs urge action on fuel poverty.(Features)
February 1, 2008... MPs take ministers to task over yawning gaps in the government's Energy Bill, and there is a reshuffle Energy minister Malcolm Wicks is braced for a torrid time this week when he faces a parliamentary select committee that wants to quiz him...

Features.
February 1, 2008... More thought needed on social tariffs British energy markets have been liberalised and exposed to the global energy market just at a time when there is unprecedented volatility. With rising wholesale prices, it is becoming harder to...

WATERGroup to steer objectives for water metering.(News)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... A pan-industry steering group has been set up to pool knowledge, establish the costs and benefits and agree a common set of objectives for smart water metering in the UK. The group is being set up as part of the Intelligent Metering...

ENVIRONMENTScots consult on climate change plans.(News)
February 1, 2008... The Scottish Government has launched a consultation on climate change in preparation for new legislation. The consultation asked whether emissions targets should be set on emissions sources or on demand, by giving users individual targets....

ENERGYBerr questions cost of smart meters.(News)(Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform )(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Berr) remains committed to smart energy metering, but does not favour the regional franchise route for a national rollout. Speaking at a meeting of the Parliamentary Group for...

Neutrality pact.(Features)
February 1, 2008... If recent research is right, 160,000 new homes can be added to the Thames Gateway without any increase in total water demand, says Julie Foley The Thames Gateway is one of Europe's largest regeneration projects. Already home to 1.45...

PAN-UTILITYSector argues for exemption from land levy.(News)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Utility companies that need planning permission for infrastructure schemes have stepped up their campaign to be exempt from a proposed new planning charge, the Community Infrastructure Levy. The charge is included in the government's...

News.(Severn Trent Services Inc.'s cost estimate)(Committee on Climate Change names Adair Turner as its head)(earnings of Eaga Partnership)
February 1, 2008... Severn costs stable Severn Trent's estimate of the cost of flooding last year is unchanged at [pounds sterling]25-35 million, with insurance recovery at [pounds sterling]10-20 million, it confirmed in a trading statement. The company said...

WATERAnglian's Osprey to contest Scots market.(News)(Osprey Water Services to build significant market share)(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... by Janet Wood and Steve Hobson Osprey Water Services, part of Anglian Water Group, has applied to supply water services to Scottish business customers when the market opens in April. Osprey director David Cook said the company wanted...

News.(United Kingdom. Office of Gas and Electricity Markets appoints John Mogg)(Contract Natural Gas appoints Richard Atkinson)(Modern Water appoints Alan Baker )(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... Sir John Mogg has been appointed to serve a second five-year term as non-executive chairman of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority. Andrew Wright, Ofgem managing director of markets, joins the authority as an executive member while Judith...

Features.(Aguas de Barcelona S.A. plans to alleviate drought in Barcelona by transporting water )(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... Water, water everywhere: Aguas de Barcelona (Agbar) is considering plans to alleviate a long- standing drought in Barcelona by transporting water from sources in the south of Spain by tanker. The company is already working to access new water...

News.(RWE AG signs contract with REpower Systems Group)(Opus Energy buys Renewable Obligation Certificates from Cornwall Light & Power's High Sharpley and Goonhilly)(Exor ensures safety for public utility companies)(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... Turbine mega-deal The renewables subsidiary of RWE has signed a memorandum of understanding involving the purchase of around 450 onshore and offshore wind turbines from REpower Systems Group. The turbines will be manufactured and delivered...

Writing the carbon code.(Features)
February 29, 2008... Carbon capture and storage needs a legal framework to operate in as well as workable technology . Janet Wood reports It was not so long ago that the idea of capturing and storing carbon dioxide to stop it reaching the atmosphere was seen as...

ENERGYProfits up as Centrica eyes offshore wind.(Features)(Centrica PLC)(Financial report)(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... by Roger Milne Centrica last week signalled its increased involvement in offshore wind generation as industry and government grapple with Europe's new 2020 target for renewable energy. The UK's biggest energy supplier indicated the...

Features.(Calendar)
February 29, 2008... THE 3 March Commons adjournment debate on Warm Front 4-5 March Utilities asset management conference organised by IIR, London 6 March SBGI's 4th annual regulation seminar, London Drinking water quality, a one-day...

ELECTRICITYEnel seizes control of Russian energy group.(Features)
February 29, 2008... by Simon Jones Enel has gained control of Russian generating company OGK-5. Enel has steadily built up its stake in OGK-5, one of six wholesale generating companies in Russia's fast-growing power market, since acquiring a blocking...

News.(Survey)(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... Recruitment 'is a boardroom issue' Future skills shortages and leadership development should be addressed at boardroom a level, a report by the Energy Institute has recommended. Surveys of energy companies and individuals conducted by...

Features.
February 29, 2008... GdF out of Nabucco The French government has withdrawn an application for Gaz de France to become the seventh partner in the Turkey-to-central Europe Nabucco pipeline project after Turkish ministers blocked GdF's plans. Stake still...

Famous last words, and poetry.(News)
February 29, 2008... Certain phrases have a habit of coming back to haunt you. Ofgem boss Alistair Buchanan may yet rue the day he confidently told the chancellor there was nowt wrong with the energy market. Many moons ago a boffin confidently insisted that nuclear...

News.(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... Unfurling the message: last week London mayor Ken Livingstone, green party London Assembly member Jenny Jones and Thames Water chief executive David Owens joined forces to promote more use of tap water in London's restaurants and cafes. Part of...

News.(fuel poverty legal challenge mooted)(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... ENERGY Fuel poverty legal challenge mooted Friends of the Earth has written to the government departments most directly involved with policy on fuel poverty to ask whether they think they are doing all they can to eradicate the...

ELECTRICITYGreen tariff labels delayed to year-end.(News)
February 29, 2008... Ofgem has announced a further delay before it publishes guidelines on green tariffs after it decided that more work needed to be done on the "additionality" aspect of the new arrangements. This will delay development of the associated...

Features.
February 29, 2008... A small piece of history was enacted in Belfast Magistrates' Court last week when Northern Ireland Water pleaded guilty to polluting a river and breaching a discharge consent. The case was brought by an environment service inspector...

ENERGYOfgem to probe soaring bills.(News)(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... by Roger Milne Regulator Ofgem has launched an investigation into the domestic and small business markets for electricity and gas, just one month after it insisted the energy market was working. Ofgem chief executive Alistair Buchanan...

GASGrid appeals against [pounds sterling]41m metering fine.(News)
February 29, 2008... by Steve Hobson National Grid could be forced to release gas suppliers from long-term metering contracts and pay a fine of [pounds sterling]41.6 million after regulator Ofgem declared that the company acted anti-competitively. National...

ELECTRICITYGovernment to consider micro feed-in tariff.(News)
February 29, 2008... Government plans to review microgeneration policy and look again at the case for feed-in tariffs have been welcomed by the renewables sector. Energy minister Malcolm Wicks last week signalled a review of microgeneration during a session of...

Water sector court fines fall.(Features)
February 29, 2008... Last year the courts fined UK water companies [pounds sterling]306,530 for pollution offences, the lowest figure for five years and half the total for the previous 12 months. That's the latest analysis from environmental magazine Ends,...

PAN-UTILITYRegulators shrug off NAO criticism.(News)(National Audit Office )(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... Ofwat and Ofgem have shrugged off criticism from the National Audit Office that they do not have suitably qualified finance directors on their boards. Both regulators were highlighted in a report from the independent public spending...

Features.(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... ENERGY Multiple organisations are demanding social tariffs to protect vulnerable customers from rising energy prices, but how should they be configured, who would benefit and who would pay? REGULATION Analysis of how a European...

News.(services provided by electric utilities)(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... Watchdog's investigation homes in on five key areas of concern The regulator has listed five sets of issues that its investigation will cover: lthe customer's perspective and experience of the market, including access to information...

ELECTRICITYBerr guidance reveals nuclear waste plans.(News)(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... by Janet Wood Potential investors in new nuclear plants will have a clear indication next year of the price they would pay the government to take on disposal of intermediate level waste from power stations. The Department for Business,...

Nuclear reality check.(Features)
February 29, 2008... The government is trying to clear the way for new nuclear plant, but the courts may have other ideas, says Hamish Lal In the recent nuclear power white paper the government made its endorsement of new-build very clear. The prime minister...

News.
February 29, 2008... Gas dip: gas production from the UK continental shelf dropped 12 per cent to 70 billion cubic metres in 2007, according to a survey by trade body Oil & Gas UK. Key infrastructure outages, cheaper European imports and a mild winter were behind...

Ministers in dock over fuel poor.(Features)
February 29, 2008... Fuel poverty, fuel bills and windfall profits from carbon trading allowances have worried MPs Energy issues continue to make waves in Parliament. This week the Upper House reached the report stage of the Climate Change Bill and backbench...

ENERGYRWE takeover spree will propel growth.(Features)(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... by Simon Jones RWE's board has backed plans for a 15 per cent capital expansion to fund future takeovers, despite strong opposition from some shareholders. The company also announced senior management changes and further restructuring...

News.(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... WATER Ofwat denies moving the goalposts Water regulator Ofwat has denied that proposals in its methodology for the 2009 price review (PR09) represent a shift towards rate of return regulation. Allen Parsons, managing director of...

ELECTRICITYScotland and N Ireland plan power links.(News)(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... Energy links between Scotland and Northern Ireland would be strengthened by a subsea grid to connect renewables schemes in the Atlantic to both countries, according to Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond. Salmond was speaking after his...

WATERScots to assess new public models.(News)(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... The Scottish Parliament has agreed to a review of Scottish Water that will consider different forms of public ownership for the state-owned company. A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: "The government is satisfied that...

Features.
February 29, 2008... Joined-up telecoms is the only solution The government's recent white paper, Meeting the Energy Challenge, set utility companies the task of updating and replacing their largely outdated legacy infrastructures. This poses problems for...

ELECTRICITYStatkraft plans expansion into NW Europe.(Features)(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... Statkraft, the Norwegian state-owned utility, has presented a plan to the company's board seeking funds to build gas-fired power plants in north west Europe, including Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. "Statkraft wants to become...

Going the distance.(Features)
February 29, 2008... The water companies' 25-year statements reveal the very different ways in which they are addressing long-term strategy, says Richard Laikin The operation of the nation's water and sewerage infrastructure is a long-term business. In some...

WATERSupply pipe adoption finding favour.(News)(Society of British Water and Wastewater Industries )(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... Water companies have signalled their interest in adopting supply pipes on customer properties. The move would speed up lead replacement schemes and could reduce leakage, they suggested. The idea was highlighted in a summary of water company...

Features.(government investing in electric utilities)(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... ELECTRICITY Sweden has Nordic grid in its sights Sweden's trade and industry ministry has established a committee to devise measures to inject more competition into the country's power market. The committee will examine the...

News.
February 29, 2008... Power play: Gaz de France and Suez are to become the new owners of the UK's biggest gas-fired power station, 1,875MW Teesside Power. Owners Cargill and Goldman Sachs announced the sale on Monday. A spokeswoman said the deal had to be cleared by...

Features.(proposals on unbundling)(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... ENERGY EC may soften stance on unbundling The European Commission has refused to adopt "third way" proposals on unbundling backed by France and Germany, but there are signs that the Commission is anticipating a compromise. ...

Is everybody happy?(Features)(water market without costly restructuring depends on customer satisfaction)
February 29, 2008... Competition could be introduced into the water market without costly restructuring . Steve Stead says it all depends on customer satisfaction Water scarcity, severe flooding and rising prices invariably mean one thing for the UK water...

News.(water companies in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have been hit with pollution fines)(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... WATER Five companies fined after spills Water companies in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have been hit with pollution fines. Lowestoft magistrates handed the biggest fine to Anglian Water: [pounds sterling]12,000 with...

ELECTRICITYPlanners are rejecting more windfarms.(News)
February 29, 2008... Planning approval rates for UK windfarms fell during 2007 to 62 per cent, significantly worse than three years earlier when the approval rate was 82 per cent, according to figures compiled by the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA). The...

ENERGYGdF launches gas emissions offset product.(News)(Gaz de France launches its first renewable energy product for gas customers)(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... Gaz de France ESS has launched its first renewable energy product for gas customers. The so-called CarbonZero Gas product will enable customers to offset all or a percentage of the emissions generated by their gas consumption. The...

News.(MWH Global Inc. will be sponsoring the UK Youth Parliament)(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... MWH sponsors youth parliament Environmental engineering company MWH has announced that it will be sponsoring the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) for the next three years. Each year more than 500 young people are elected to the UKYP. The...

Features.(Energy Networks Association)(services provided by electric utilities)(Brief article)
February 29, 2008... Sir: I write about your story "Power line fears over telecoms changeover" (UW, 22 February). BT meets regularly with the Energy Networks Association (ENA) and we have discussed at length our move to the 21st Century Network (21CN). We are...