Utility Week articles from July 2007

Utility Week archives from July 2007

News.
July 6, 2007... Market plan The legal framework for the all-island electricity market went live on Wednesday, announced Iain Osborne, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and Tom Reeves, chairman of Ireland's Commission...

ENVIRONMENTNorway strikes deal for giant CCS scheme.(Features)
July 6, 2007... by Gerard O'Dwyer Norway's Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has signed a landmark agreement with energy groups Norsk Hydro, Statoil, Vattenfall, Shell, and Dong who will set up a joint venture to build a carbon capture and storage (CSS)...

ENVIRONMENTLaw lords set limits for pollution liability.(Features)
July 6, 2007... by Roger Barnard A House of Lords ruling has clarified the corporate liability of utilities for cleanup costs on land polluted by their predecessors. Reversing an earlier High Court decision, the law lords ruled unanimously that the...

Features.
July 6, 2007... A conference is being organised by Utility Week to help utilities deal with customer debt. Utilities struggle to manage customer debt. They need to deal with customers on an individual basis to understand whether the customer is...

ENERGYDebt results in 5,000 disconnections.(Features)(Brief article)
July 6, 2007... Figures from energy regulator Ofgem reveal that electricity and gas companies disconnected more than 5,000 customers because of debt in 2006. Gas disconnections were the highest, totalling 3,859 over the year, and 42 per cent of those...

Features.
July 6, 2007... THE 6 July Final day of partner visit organised by Scottish Water 9-10 July Preparing for the second phase of the ETS, organised by Environmental Finance Conferences, Brussels 12 July Competition Commission decision...

ELECTRICITYDrax results suggest price drops ahead.(Features)(Drax Group)(Brief article)
July 6, 2007... Drax Group has released a trading statement that says the company is trading "in line with expectations", but also reveals a sharp reduction in prices realised for forward sales in fiscal year 2009. Forward prices rose slightly from...

EnergyCoal generation falls in Q1.(News)(Brief article)
July 6, 2007... UK coal generation fell significantly in the first quarter of 2007 compared with the same period last year, according to the latest government energy statistics. The figures showed that the amount of electricity generated at coal-fired...

ENVIRONMENTNI agency needed to protect environment.(News)
July 6, 2007... by Roger Milne The new administration in Northern Ireland is under pressure to establish an independent environment regulator on the lines of the agencies operating in England and Wales and in Scotland. The recommendation came from a...

ENERGYFinland first with plan to save energy.(Features)
July 6, 2007... Finland has become the first European Union state to submit a national energy plan under the bloc's Energy End-Use Efficiency and Energy Services Directive. The country sent its plans to the European Commission last week, four days ahead...

eNERGYCall to penalise slow billers.(News)(Energywatch)(Brief article)
July 6, 2007... Consumers have been urged to act against energy suppliers that fail to issue regular accurate bills. The call came from Energywatch, which has pointed out that under new rules that came into force at the beginning of July, companies will...

Features.(European Commission threatened member states with legal action)(Brief article)
July 6, 2007... States that ignored competition rules face legal action The European Commission has threatened a number of member states with legal action for their tardy implementation of competition rules. Luxembourg and Ireland are in trouble...

It's the way she tells 'em.(News)
July 6, 2007... Should readers be organising a bar mitzvah or for some other reason be short of an after dinner speaker, they could do worse than see if Environment Agency supremo Baroness Young is available. The agency's chief executive has a dry wit that...

News.
July 6, 2007... Helping hand: mud, torrential rain, fantastic music and a boost for WaterAid. Yup, this year's Glastonbury Festival swelled the charity's coffers by over [pounds sterling]20,000 while its End Water Poverty campaign collected more than 12,000...

The forward view.(Features)
July 6, 2007... When Steve Hobson interviewed Ofwat chairman Philip Fletcher on stage at the Water 2007 conference, they discussed how the regulator's agenda would have to change in light of government thinking When Ofwat chairman Philip Fletcher and...

PAN-UTILITYUtilities get to grips with flooding.(News)(Brief article)
July 6, 2007... Utility staff have been working around the clock to clear up after last week's floods, in which a month's rain fell in just six hours in parts of the Midlands and Yorkshire. A number of Yorkshire Water's treatment works were engulfed with...

ENERGYRuling boosts French market.(Features)(Brief article)
July 6, 2007... by Janet Wood A ruling by France's competition commission boosted prospects for competition in the country's domestic energy market just three days before the market was liberalised. The ruling was in response to a complaint from...

ENVIRONMENTCourt says recycled oil is not waste.(News)
July 6, 2007... The Court of Appeal has ruled that recycled fuel oil can be defined as fuel rather than waste. The ruling will allow such oil to be used as a fuel for power generation rather than having to be burned under tighter - and more costly - waste...

Features.
July 6, 2007... GAS Gazprom and Eni plan 900km link Gazprom and Eni are to build a 900km gas pipeline from Russia to Italy and central Europe via the Black Sea. A new joint venture will own and finance the 30 billion cubic metre per year South Stream...

ELECTRICITYTransmission levy angers energy traders.(Features)
July 6, 2007... European energy traders have complained about new transmission charges introduced by Hungarian transmission system operator Mavir. Mavir announced last week that it would levy a charge of [euro]1/MWh for transporting electricity from...

Features.(planning for water meters and enviornmental aspects)
July 6, 2007... Brown's reshuffle misses a green opportunity Gordon Brown promised that his administration would listen. He pledged "to sharpen the focus of central government on the new and very different challenges that Britain will face in the years...

News.(Thames Water Utilities Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 6, 2007... Thames finally turns corner on leaks Thames Water beat its revised 2006/07 leakage target of 840Ml a day under an accelerated mains replacement programme agreed last year with regulator Ofwat. The company cut leakage to 800Ml/d by...

ENERGYNovel tariffs spark customer competition.(News)
July 6, 2007... One in five households has signed up to an innovative energy deal, according to figures from Ofgem. In a report on competition the energy regulator said six million households were now on fixed rate tariffs and a further 1.2 million had...

Finding a place for radwaste.(Features)(radioactive waste)(Scottish and Southern Energy)
July 6, 2007... The government has begun a consultation exercise on the way in which it will choose a site for the long-term disposal of higher activity radioactive waste - as well as some of the technical aspects of designing and delivering a disposal...

ENERGYBack unbundling, Kroes tells users.(Features)(Neelie Kroes)(Speech)(Brief article)
July 6, 2007... Europe's major energy users have been urged to back moves to require full ownership unbundling. The call came from European competition commissioner Neelie Kroes in a speech last week to the general assembly of the International Federation...

Features.
July 6, 2007... SPECIAL ISSUE Next week's issue explores low carbon living and how utilities can facilitate it. Articles include: acents Results of a joint Utility Week/Accenture survey into public attitudes to microgen acents*Suppliers' progress...

News.(cost collapses in North Sea production)(Brief article)
July 6, 2007... GAS Price collapse hits N Sea production Britain's offshore energy industry has issued its clearest warning yet about the competitive squeeze on gas production from the UK continental shelf (UKCS), adversely affected by cost inflation...

Features.
July 6, 2007... ELECTRICITY Hydro transfers 'break trade rules' The European Free Trade Association's internal court in Luxembourg has ruled that the Norwegian government's proposals to make hydropower owners transfer their concessions back to the...

News.(National Energy Action warned ministers about fuel poverty)(Brief article)
July 6, 2007... ENERGY Ministers warned on poverty targets National Energy Action (NEA), the leading fuel poverty charity, warned this week that up to three million households in England could still be in fuel poverty by 2010, in breach of the...

News.(utilities trying hard to make their corporate social responsibilty report trust worthy)
July 6, 2007... Once considered a soft add-on to a utility's financial accounts, corporate responsibility reports have taken centre stage . ZoA' Grainge reports The human touch Whether they are called corporate responsibility (CR) reports,...

Reshuffle ducks policy splits.(Features)(new UK prime minister Gordon Brown's Cabinet and ministerial reshuffle)
July 6, 2007... The new prime minister baulks at bringing energy and environment under one Whitehall roof Incoming prime minister Gordon Brown's Cabinet and ministerial reshuffle was certainly wide-ranging. However, his penchant for departmental changes...

WATERProcurement rule regime set by test case.(Features)
July 6, 2007... The European Commission has spelt out the degree of control that local authorities must exercise over a water company before the utility can be considered an "in-house" service and therefore free from public procurement tendering procedures....

Pull the other one.(Features)
July 6, 2007... Revenue collection specialist RAS tells Steve Hobson that outstanding debt can be down to hardship, disputes or old-fashioned criminality Utilities are often seen as a "soft touch" by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Any payment...

PAN-UTILITYWicks recycled and it's all change at Defra.(News)(Malcolm Wicks energy minister for second time)(Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)(Brief article)
July 6, 2007... Gordon Brown's first ministerial line-up, announced last week, has resulted in the return of former energy minister Malcolm Wicks to his old job but prompted a major shake-out at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that will...

ENERGYMinisterial action is key to smart meters.(News)(supply of smart meters)(Report)(Brief article)
July 6, 2007... by Roger Milne Without urgent government and Ofgem intervention smart metering will reach less than one-third of consumers, a think-tank has warned. Sustainability First, in a new report sponsored by the energy sector, called on...

Features.(management of urban areas to protect them against floods)
July 6, 2007... Last week's devastating floods were a reminder that global warming isn't just about long hot summers and drought. Increased thermal activity in the atmosphere will also lead to more frequent storms, heavier rain and more flooding. This has...

News.(Southern Water PLC's Brighton overflow nears completion)(Brief article)
July 6, 2007... WATER Brighton overflow nears completion Southern Water and its contractor Amec have almost completed a [pounds sterling]3.4 million emergency combined sewer overflow at Blackrock, close to Brighton Marina. The overflow will let...

WATERThames 'making progress'.(News)(Thames Water Utilities Ltd)(Brief article)
July 6, 2007... by Steve Hobson Thames Water had an "encouraging" first year under the ownership of Macquarie-led consortium Kemble Water, according to chief executive David Owens. "The battle to restore the company's standing has only just begun,...

ELECTRICITYUnion opposes Ofgem's zonal charging plan.(News)(utility industry union, Unison)(Brief article)
July 6, 2007... Unison, Britain's biggest union in the utility industry, has added its voice to those who oppose plans to change the electricity transmission charging regime. In June, energy regulator Ofgem said it was "minded" to go ahead with plans to...

Carbon cutters.(Features)
July 6, 2007... United Utilities has made a public commitment to reduce its carbon footprint . Steve Hobson talks to the men responsible for making it happen In March, United Utilities became the first UK water utility to publicly commit itself to...

Ready to go?(Features)
July 6, 2007... A partial privatisation of Sweden's biggest energy utility looks inevitable, but how attractive is Vattenfall to investors? Nigel Hawkins investigates Over the past year, Vattenfall's name has become better known internationally for a...

WATEREC threatens quality law laggards.(Features)(European Commission)(Brief article)
July 6, 2007... The European Commission has threatened action against two member states that have not yet transposed legislation on water quality into national law. Italy has not finished transposing the Water Framework Directive and Belgium's Flemish...

GASDistribution price rise triggers shipper anger.(News)(Brief article)
July 6, 2007... by Steve Hobson Gas distribution network users have reacted angrily to Ofgem's proposals for the 2008-13 price control, the first five-year review since the sale of four of the UK's eight networks by National Grid. The regulator is...

ENERGYEST warns of entertainment energy burden.(Features)(Report)(Brief article)
July 6, 2007... Home entertainment equipment such as TVs and laptops could account for 45 per cent of household electricity use by 2020, according to a report by the Energy Saving Trust (EST). In its report, The Ampere Strikes Back, the trust said the...

Underlying problems.(Features)
July 6, 2007... Defra has decided that water companies will adopt private sewers, but the detail of how it will be done has yet to be thrashed out, says Nick Orman Most people believe that if they have a problem with a drain or sewer outside their...

News.(second 5MW wind turbine installed at Beatrice windfarm)(Brief article)
July 13, 2007... A second 5MW wind turbine was carried out to join its twin at the Beatrice windfarm last week. The first turbine was installed at the site, 25km offshore, a year ago, but the second missed the weather window and has been waiting on the shore at...

Features.(sustainability in biofuels use)(Brief article)
July 13, 2007... ENVIRONMENT Bio-energy 'must be sustainable' The growing interest in replacing fossil-based fuels with biofuels could increase grain prices by 20 to 50 per cent over the next decade, according to the Organisation for Economic...

Beyond BedZED.(Features)
July 13, 2007... Bioregional is the firm behind the trail-blazing BedZED . Director Sue Riddlestone tells Karma Ockenden of valuable lessons learned The "great green gimmick" was how the Daily Mail described the Beddington Zero Energy Development (BedZED)...

News.(Fulcrum Pipelines granted licence by Ofgem)(Robert Watson appointed as scientific adviser for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)(Eon UK and Ceramic Fuel Cells to collaborate)(Brief article)
July 13, 2007... Fulcrum licensed Fulcrum Pipelines, a subsidiary of National Grid-owned utility connections business Fulcrum, has been granted a gas transporter licence by Ofgem. Utilities drive growth Sewerage, electricity and harbours are the...

News.
July 13, 2007... ENERGY British Gas accused over predatory pricing Energy regulator Ofgem has been urged by customer watchdog Energywatch to step into the row over alleged anti-competitive behaviour by British Gas Business (BGB). The company has...

ENVIRONMENTNorway team stops carbon storage work.(Features)(Statoil and Shell planning to start a new project on power generation)(Brief article)
July 13, 2007... by Gerard O'Dwyer Joint venture partners Statoil and Shell have agreed to abandon a power generation and carbon dioxide capture project in Norway that has cost more than [euro]50 million in research and development costs. Statoil and Shell...

News.
July 13, 2007... The Belfast skyline changed for good last Friday when three 73m-high chimneys were demolished at the former Belfast West coal-fired power station, the Province's biggest electricity generator when commissioned in 1961. The site will be retained...

News.(Office of Gas and Electricity Markets)(Brief article)
July 13, 2007... The long wait: Ofgem in limbo over reform of gas offtake regime Plans to change the gas offtake regime have been a long-running sore as far as the industry is concerned. Ofgem has been trying to bring in reforms for nearly ten years. ...

GASAppeal ruling blow for Ofgem.(News)(E.ON has pleaded in the court for the reform of Uniform Network Code)(Brief article)
July 13, 2007... by Roger Milne Ofgem has been forced to go back to the drawing board overits plans for reforming the gas offtake regime following a Competition Commission ruling this week. On Tuesday the watchdog quashed a decision by the regulator to...

eLECTRICITYNiche supplier slams 'scams' of the big six.(News)(Electricity4business talks about customer fooling of elctricity suppliers)(Brief article)
July 13, 2007... A specialist UK power marketer targeting small and medium-sized businesses has accused the big six electricity suppliers of "dirty tricks" and overpriced contracts. The claims came from Electricity4business, which has published a guide...

PAn-UTILITYSatisfaction to be guaranteed.(News)(United Kingdom government discuss on the new consumer redress schemes)
July 13, 2007... by Roger Milne The government has begun consulting on the scope and reach of proposed new consumer redress schemes designed to guarantee that complaints are properly resolved. In the case of the energy sector, they should also ensure that...

Features.
July 13, 2007... THE 13 July Final day of customer water metering, a conference organised by London Business Conferences, London 17 July Consultation meeting on latest Ofgem/DBERR offshore electricity transmission proposals, London 18...

ENERGYVulnerable 'least likely to switch'.(News)
July 13, 2007... Vulnerable customers are the least likely to switch supplier to get a better energy deal, according to research carried out for energy regulator Ofgem by Ipsos Mori. The survey of 2,020 residents was carried out in March this year and...

Europe to get Institute of Technology.(News)(European Union Council of Ministers plans to start European Institute of Technology)(Brief article)
July 13, 2007... Researchers developing innovative renewable energy technology and solutions to deal with climate change should benefit from a decision by the European Union Council of Ministers to create a European Institute of Technology (EIT). Inspired...

Home is where the heat is.(Features)
July 13, 2007... Energy Performance Certificates are coming - if need be without their troubled companion, the Home Information Pack, says Joanne Turner Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are a key plank of the government's energy efficiency and carbon...

Power sector accidents rise.(News)
July 13, 2007... More workers in the electricity industry had accidents last year than in 2005, a new report has claimed. It said the industry was failing to meet its own safety targets. The sixth annual Safelec 2010 report, published by the Energy...

Features.(Enel and Acciona needs to abide to conditions in order to merge with Endesa)(Brief article)
July 13, 2007... ENERGY CNE agrees merger with conditions Enel and Acciona are expected to challenge the 12 conditions set by Spanish energy watchdog CNE for approval of their joint bid for Endesa. The regulator's terms aim to maintain some Spanish...

Features.
July 13, 2007... ENERGY Commission plans customer charter The European Commission has announced plans for an Energy Consumers' Charter that would provide domestic energy consumers across Europe with information about their rights to switch electricity...

environmentStates miss EC deadline for energy saving.(Features)
July 13, 2007... All but three European Union member states failed to meet the end of June deadline for submitting national energy efficiency action plans required under the bloc's 2006 energy end-use efficiency and energy services directive, it has emerged....

ENERGYEni acquisition boosts French customer base.(Features)
July 13, 2007... Eni has taken a 28 per cent stake in independent French gas distributor Altergaz. The deal wins Eni joint control of Altergaz, with an option to buy out the firm's founding partners and secure full control by 2010. Eni has also agreed an...

ENERGYAll change at Eon as Cocker lands top job.(News)
July 13, 2007... Eon UK managing director of Energy Wholesale Tony Cocker has been promoted to chief executive of Eon Energy Trading covering the whole group. The move is part of Eon's "Europe.on" pan-European trading initiative. Cocker's promotion and the...

Shedding a light on bulb policy.(News)(use energy saving light bulb to conserve energy)(Column)
July 13, 2007... This column has had occasion in the past to note some intriguing exchanges in the Palace of Westminster where the odd flash of wit and wisdom can enliven proceedings. Parliamentary questions can prove a source of bizarre facts, as the following...

News.(Southern Water will fine corporation for creating water pollution)
July 13, 2007... Eye, eye, what's all this then? Southern Water is definitely getting down and dirty. Literally and metaphorically. It is employing a crack team of enforcement officers who are checking out restaurants and businesses that pour fat and oil down...

electricityEDF Trading acquires coal terminal.(Features)(EDF trading took over Amstuv BV a coal industry)(Brief article)
July 13, 2007... EDF Trading has acquired a coal terminal business located in the Port of Amsterdam. Amstuv BV, currently owned by the LBH Group, operates three coal terminals with a total annual capacity of 15 million tonnes. EDF Trading, the...

GASGazprom UK consolidates retail arm.(News)(Company overview)
July 13, 2007... The UK subsidiary of Gazprom confirmed last week that it had completed the acquisition of gas shipping company Natural Gas Shipping Services (NGSS). Wilmslow-based NGSS was providing shipper services for Pennine Natural Gas, the niche...

ENERGYGerman utilities warn over energy security.(Features)
July 13, 2007... by Simon Jones The latest German energy summit hosted by chancellor Angela Merkel has agreed a series of climate change initiatives, but postponed decisions on a change to the country's nuclear phase-out beyond the 2009 general election....

Zero heroes.(Features)
July 13, 2007... Four houses being showcased by BRE at building exhibition Offsite2007 demonstrate the possibilities of low-carbon design . Simon Guy reports Few would deny that the government has set a very challenging target with its zero-carbon homes...

News.(Eon UK's plans to replace power plant gained Greenpeace protest)(Brief article)
July 13, 2007... Power protest: Eon UK's plans to replace its existing coal-fired power plant at Kingsnorth, on the Hoo Peninsula in Kent, with two new state-of-the-art supercritical 800MW units has become the target of a Greenpeace campaign. The pressure group...

Features.(E.ON UK PLC's brading policy)
July 13, 2007... How long can the Powergen brand survive? Is Powergen about the go the same way as Sweb, LEB and Seeboard? The latter three former regional electricity company names were subsumed into EDF Energy last year as part of a campaign to push the...

News.
July 13, 2007... Solar power is overlooked Sir, I write concerning Carbon Cutters (Utility Week, 6 July). Much as I admire the approach being taken by some of the utility companies towards addressing their carbon footprints, I can't help but feel that a...

News.
July 13, 2007... GAS Campaigner loses bid to see files A campaigner opposed to plans to build two new liquefied natural gas facilities near Milford Haven has failed in a legal bid to see assessments relating to the possible threats posed to local...

Gas prices rise after glitches.(Features)(Global coal market shares)(methods of acquiring energy customers)(Report)
July 13, 2007... The unexpected stability in short-term gas prices came to an end towards the end of June, with prices pushed higher by a series of unforeseen supply interruptions. Some North Sea gas fields and a processing plant were late restarting after...

WATERSupport for NI reform halves in five years.(News)(Northern Ireland)(Brief article)
July 13, 2007... Support among Northern Ireland consumers for water charging has halved since 2002, according to research by the Belfast-based Consumer Council. The devolved Stormont administration has delayed the imposition of separate water charges, due...

Features.
July 13, 2007... Get smart on energy efficiency Meeting international targets for cutting emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide will require a fundamental shift in attitudes to power generation and resource planning. At present, generators...

Grid to recruit 50 staff for Grain expansion.(News)
July 13, 2007... by ZoA' Grainge National Grid is to recruit 50 new staff for its Grain liquefied natural gas terminal. This follows the company's announcement in May that it would be expanding capacity at Grain. National Grid is looking to fill a...

Features.
July 13, 2007... INTERVIEW Eva Eisenschimmel, chief operating officer at EDF Energy's customer branch, builds a brand for EDF Energy WATER David Owens, former chief of power distribution firm 24Seven Utility Services, on taking the helm at Thames...

ELECTRICITYIceland banks on small hydro for Norway.(Features)
July 13, 2007... Rarik, Iceland's state-owned power group, has joined forces with the Reykjavik-based investment bank Landsbanki and Norwegian companies Blafall Energi and Green Stream Network to build 40 small hydro-electric power plants in western and...

Building the future.(Features)
July 13, 2007... The government has broken new ground with its recent raft of low-carbon, and ultimately zero-carbon, policies . Roger Milne reports Over the past eighteen months a series of phrases has crept into the political lexicon. Ministers have begun...

News.
July 13, 2007... Appointments Richard Marlow takes the reins as managing director for the commercial sector of Sheffield-based Close Credit Management. He has worked in the credit and collections sector for more than 13 years and has also been a committee...