Utility Week articles from May 2007

Utility Week archives from May 2007

PAN-UTILITYBritish Gas bails out of smart meter trials.(News)
May 4, 2007... by Steve Hobson British Gas Business has withdrawn from the government's trials of smart meters due to begin shortly, Utility Week has learned. The two-year trials, to be run by regulator Ofgem with [pounds sterling]9.75 million of...

waterBournemouth disputes 'water stressed' label.(Bournemouth and District Water Co.)(Brief article)
May 4, 2007... Bournemouth & West Hampshire Water has strongly disputed its "seriously water-stressed" classification in the Environment Agency consultation Identifying Areas of Water Stress. The consultation, begun in January, is looking at methods of...

News.
May 4, 2007... Slow progress in Belgian market In Belgium, energy regulator CREG's annual survey has reported that there was little progress last year towards liberalisation of the country's electricity market. While Belgian supplier SPE and Dutch...

News.
May 4, 2007... Welsh wind worry The Welsh Assembly has called on the Department of Trade and Industry to hold a public inquiry into RWE Npower Renewables' application for a 200-turbine offshore wind farm 15km out to sea from Llandudno. No ban...

waterSmart meter trials needed, says CCWater.(Consumer Council for Water)(Brief article)
May 4, 2007... Rolling out a compulsory metering programme without proper trials of smart meters would be "nonsensical", according to Dame Yve Buckland, chair of the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater). She was responding to the government's consultation on...

ELECTRICITYRising reliance on imports in central Europe.(News)
May 4, 2007... Czech generating company CEZ is increasingly shifting exports eastwards to meet the growing electricity shortage in central Europe. Alan Svoboda, CEZ's executive director of sales and trading, said increasing demand in central Europe and...

News.
May 4, 2007... You've been framed: nuclear industry sector skills council Cogent is seeking feedback from industry on its proposed Advanced Apprenticeship Framework for England and Wales. The new framework will bring together all the Advanced Apprenticeship...

Features.
May 4, 2007... THE 4 May BG Group first quarter 2007 results Publication of IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, Bangkok 7 May Latest round of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol talks begin, Bonn ...

waterItaly faces drought after dry winter.(News)
May 4, 2007... Italy may declare a state of emergency because a dry winter has left it facing potential power cuts and water restrictions this summer. Water reserves across the country have fallen 20-50 per cent below average due to a lack of rain and...

eNERGYCommission: prices 'too high'.(News)(Brief article)
May 4, 2007... European Union energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs is holding to a tough line over unbundling EU electricity and gas utilities. European Commission officials have told Utility Week that a full proposal is expected in September and...

News.
May 4, 2007... On track: green energy supplier Ecotricity has announced a supply deal with sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars that could see a three-turbine windfarm at its factory and test track at Hethel, near Wymondham in Norfolk.

PAN-UTILITY Election could mean new Scottish Water.(Brief article)
May 4, 2007... by Roger Milne Scottish Water could be removed from public ownership and put into a mutual company as a result of this week's elections for the Scottish Parliament. Although neither the Scottish Labour Party nor the Scottish National...

News.
May 4, 2007... Spanish treatment The European Court of Justice has censured the Spanish government for failing to ensure that the sewage treatment systems of holiday resorts in Valencia province comply with the European Union Urban Waste Water Treatment...

Fresh water and running jokes.(News)
May 4, 2007... Disconnector is impressed and intrigued in equal measure by the sheer dogged bloody-mindedness (perhaps its cussedness) of those living across the Irish Sea in the Emerald Isle. Readers of this column will recall the "Rossport five" who...

News.
May 4, 2007... Mouse magic, or maybe more accurately, Northumbrian Water's take on "honey, I shrunk the family"? This slightly surreal picture is highlighted this week because it shows a set of surfin' dudes announcing the news that the water company now has...

waterFirth of Forth sewage leak inquiries begin.(Scottish Water investigated for sewage spills)(Brief article)
May 4, 2007... The Food Standards Agency is still testing fish and shellfish after a sewage spill from Scottish Water's Seafield wastewater treatment works into the Firth of Forth last week. However, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said...

The next Opec?(Features)
May 4, 2007... The world's major gas exporters are trying to form a cartel to control the price of gas . Keith Smith urges Europe to wake up to the danger The world's biggest gas producers have taken a major step towards forming an Opec-like gas cartel....

GASGas transporters join in single code.(licences allowing creation of uniform network code)(Brief article)
May 4, 2007... A milestone was reached this week in the evolution of the gas market on the UK mainland and in the development of a competitive sector for independent gas transporters. On Monday, Ofgem signed off modifications to the sector's licences...

News.
May 4, 2007... ENERGY Gazprom retreats on German retail Gazprom has cooled on plans to expand in Germany's downstream gas market. The Russian firm blamed regulatory uncertainty in Germany and growing European Union political pressure for compulsory...

News.
May 4, 2007... ENERGY Germany beefs up competition laws The German cabinet has approved amendments to the country's cartel laws that will strengthen the powers of the Federal Cartel Office (FCO) to investigate alleged market abuse. The changes will...

Recognition needed for in-house training.(News)
May 4, 2007... by ZoA' Grainge The government should reform the qualifications framework to ensure that high quality training given to staff is recognised nationally, according to a report published last week by the Confederation of British Industry...

News.
May 4, 2007... Terminal trade: National Grid's liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on the Isle of Grain in Kent has become a key element in a major transatlantic deal involving Gaz de France and US company Cheniere Energy. Under the deal, GdF will be...

Guess work.(Features)(water utilitiy's leakage prevention)
May 4, 2007... Leakage data is politically and commercially significant, yet figures are based only on rough estimates of consumption . By George Archibald Less than one-third of water companies' supply is metered for final use. The other two-thirds has...

Obstacle course.(energy industry)
May 4, 2007... The Commission is determined to push energy network unbundling, but it may have overlooked some big legal obstacles . By Sebastian McMichael The European Commission's January report on energy sector competition made uncomfortable reading...

PAN-UTILITYMetronet 'could face insolvency'.(Brief article)
May 4, 2007... Metronet, the company part-owned by EDF Energy and Thames Water, could go into insolvency, according to London Mayor Ken Livingstone. He said that could be the outcome of a dispute with London Underground, if Metronet's five shareholders...

waterMerger firms must give customers [pounds sterling]4m.(Mid Kent Water and South East Water)(Brief article)
May 4, 2007... by Vibeka Mair Mid Kent Water and South East Water must return [pounds sterling]4 million to their customers as a condition of the Competition Commission's approval of a merger between the two companies. Since last November, the...

News.
May 4, 2007... PAN-UTILITY Ulster regulator pledges big changes The Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (NIAUR) has said it will pursue significant internal reforms over the next year, according to its Forward Work Programme for...

Features.
May 4, 2007... PAN-UTILITY With many utilities falling into the hands of infrastructure funds and other investment companies, what are the implications for day-to-day operations and long-term prospects? INTERVIEW Managing director Andy Neve on...

GAS Ofgem will pursue Grid over meters.(Office of Gas and Electricity Markets)(National Grid Company PLC)(Brief article)
May 4, 2007... National Grid has reacted angrily to Ofgem's decision to continue with its Competition Act investigation into the company's contracts with suppliers for the provision of domestic gas meters. The regulator issued a statement last week...

ENERGYOfgem clarifies prepay meter obligations.(United Kingdom. Office of Gas and Electricity Markets)(Brief article)
May 4, 2007... Ofgem has clarified its intention to include a new obligation on domestic energy companies to reset prepayment meters as part of the revamped supply licence, due to come into effect in July. Suppliers will have to recalibrate prepay meters...

waterPearson calls for charging rethink.(environment minister Ian Pearson)(Brief article)
May 4, 2007... Charging for water on the basis of the rateable value of homes is an unsustainable policy, environment minister Ian Pearson told an Institute of Public Policy Research seminar last week. He said we could not expect rateable value from the 1970s...

News.
May 4, 2007... People on the move DSTi, a business solutions provider for the financial services industry, has appointed Matt Williams as business development executive for DSTi Billing. He will be responsible for DSTi customer management and billing...

Grappling with climate change.(dealing with enviornmenal policy and climate change)
May 4, 2007... Parliamentarians are dubious that the administration is really geared up to deal with global warming Understandably, most of the political coverage at present centres on four issues: when the prime minister will quit, his successor, the...

ENERGYSuppliers head for price war.(announcements of ScottishPower and EDF Energy regarding reductio in gas prices)
May 4, 2007... by Roger Milne All six major domestic energy suppliers have now announced price cuts, although some will not kick in until June and one company, EDF Energy, has decided at this stage not to reduce its electricity tariffs at all. ...

News.
May 4, 2007... Girls solder on at RWE technical day German energy giant RWE has held a "Girls' Day" across 25 of its regional subsidiaries in Germany, with the aim of encouraging girls and young women in typically male jobs. The company, which in...

ELECTRICITYSage calls for clarity on EMFs.(News)
May 4, 2007... by Janet Wood There were few firm conclusions and much disagreement in an interim assessment produced by the Stakeholder Advisory Group ELF EMF (Sage). It recommended some low-cost measures to reduce electric and magnetic fields (EMFs)...

News.
May 4, 2007... ELECTRICITY Change at the top for ScottishPower Iberdrola's takeover of ScottishPower, completed last week, also saw the departure of chief executive Philip Bowman. Jose Luis del Valle has taken over as chief executive officer. ...

Features.
May 4, 2007... Gas and coal are in the mix The spotlight is now on the British government to deliver on security of supply, pricing and emissions in the forthcoming energy white paper. It also needs to spell out tangible actions in relation to...

ELECTRICITYDanes say Swedes push up prices.(Danish transmission system operator)(Brief article)
May 4, 2007... Sweden's practice of restricting exports of electricity in order to maintain a single price zone in the country has cost Danish consumers more than [euro]110 million, according to Danish transmission system operator Energinet.dk. The...

Goodbye call world.(Features)
May 4, 2007... At privatisation, telecoms stocks shared many characteristics with utilities . Nigel Hawkins explains why things changed so dramatically Alert readers may have noticed that Utility Week no longer carries stories on the mainstream telecoms...

WATERThree fined for sewage discharges.(South West Water, Severn Trent Water, Yorkshire Water)(Brief article)
May 4, 2007... Three companies have been fined over sewage discharges. The biggest was for Yorkshire Water, which was fined [pounds sterling]10,000 with [pounds sterling]753 costs by Huddersfield magistrates after it admitted two charges of breaching...

Turning the tide.(Features)(Report)
May 4, 2007... The government has decided that a [pounds sterling]2bn tunnel is the only way to keep the Thames free of sewage . Janet Wood reports It will take nearly ten years to solve the problem of discharges through combined sewer outfalls into the...

ENERGYVattenfall to halve its carbon emissions.(News)
May 4, 2007... by Janet Wood Vattenfall has announced plans to dramatically reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its fleet of generators. "By 2030 we should have cut emissions by half, compared to the level in 1990," president and chief executive...

News.
May 4, 2007... ENERGY Grant brings Wave Hub a step closer Wave hub, a testbed hosting up to four wave power devices, has won funding from the South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) and could be built as early as next summer, if it...

Features.
May 4, 2007... Can the energy white paper break smart metering logjam? When the energy white paper is published, probably later this month, no doubt the headline writers will focus on the implications for nuclear energy. But the white paper will be at...

News.
May 4, 2007... Energy consumption displays 'could be unsafe' Ministerial proposals to require energy suppliers to provide every household with a free display monitor showing energy consumption could be unsafe. Heating controls manufacturer Horstmann said...

News.
May 11, 2007... Smooth waters: Ofwat has approved the takeover of Anglian Water parent AWG by consortium Osprey Acquisitions. The regulator has made minor changes to Anglian's licence to include a cash lock-up provision, which has effectively ringfenced the...

ELECTRICITYNuclear extensions allowed.(News)(nuclear power stations of British Energy allowed to operate)(Brief article)
May 11, 2007... by Janet Wood Two of British Energy's nuclear power stations can continue to operate beyond their planned shutdown date of 2011, the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) has said. Following a periodic safety review, the NII gave...

News.
May 11, 2007... ENERGY Mild winter hits BG Group profit UK gas production company BG Group has reported a 20 per cent drop in its net profit for the first quarter of 2007 as a result of lower wholesale gas prices and a weak dollar. BG's shares...

waterOfwat may relax rules for benchmark.(News)(capital maintenance)(Brief article)
May 11, 2007... More water companies could be eligible to become Ofwat's benchmark company for capital maintenance efficiency after the regulator decided to review its approach to the selection of the capital maintenance benchmark. Currently, the company...

News.
May 11, 2007... Into the woods: the UK's largest biomass-fuelled power station will be in full operation by the end of the year, said Eon. The 44MW plant at Steven's Croft near Lockerbie will burn 480,000 tonnes of wood fuel annually. Meanwhile, a consortium...

News.
May 11, 2007... No fix on weather The Met Office has said it has no significant indications yet of whether the summer will be dry or wet. However, forecasts slightly favoured drier than average conditions in western Europe. Ofwat's shifting role ...

WATERWater-only premium under review in PR09.(News)(Ofwat)(Brief article)
May 11, 2007... Ofwat is to review its policy of giving small water-only companies a premium on their cost of capital in the 2009 periodic review - a move welcomed by the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater). Last year's takeover of Bristol Water by...

Laying the groundwork.(Features)(utilities need better information on buried assets)(Report)
May 11, 2007... Jo Parker provides a roundup of the numerous research projects being undertaken to help utilities map and provide access to underground assets Every year, four million holes are dug in UK highways and footpaths by utilities to install new...

News.
May 11, 2007... ENERGY Centrica hedges with Drax contract Centrica will become the biggest customer of Drax, the UK's largest coal-fired power station, when a five-year power supply contract begins this autumn. The contract is part of Centrica's plan...

Tools of the trade.(Features)(enforcement of competition law by utility regulators)
May 11, 2007... Utility regulators often opt to use their regulatory powers when they encounter market abuse instead of deploying their competition law powers . Nigel Seay and Katherine Kirrage urge a change of tack Sectoral regulators have had powers to...

Features.
May 11, 2007... THE 11 May Eni first quarter 2007 results 14 May EDF first quarter 2007 trading statement 14-15 May Zero carbon developments, a two-day REA conference, Manchester 15 May RWE first quarter 2007 results ...

energyRegulators favour unbundling.(Features)
May 11, 2007... by Janet Wood The European Regulators' Group for Electricity and Gas (ERGEG) has called on the European Commission to pursue full unbundling of energy transmission assets. The ERGEG said it "regards the neutrality of network operators...

ENVIRONMENTEstonia told to halve emissions allowance.(Features)
May 11, 2007... by Roger Milne The European Commission has taken its toughest stance yet on a member state's national allocation plan (Nap) for the second phase of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). It has ordered Estonia to reduce its...

News.
May 11, 2007... The introduction of National Occupational Standards has had many benefits for employers as well as employees, as Energy & Utility Skills reports Standards issues Training has been a key issue in all sectors of industry for many years,...

energyWatchdogs help decide on Spanish stakes.(News)
May 11, 2007... The Spanish government has agreed to lift the 3 per cent cap on Enel's voting rights in Endesa. Madrid approved the new 10 per cent limit - the maximum allowed to any shareholder under Endesa bylaws - after energy regulator CNE decided...

Features.
May 11, 2007... Eon offers alternative to ownership unbundling Eon chief executive Wulf Bernotat said at the company's annual general meeting last week that ownership unbundling was "old hat" and that his company would mount a legal challenge. Eon has...

GASEon leads rebellion against NTS change.(News)(National Transmission System)(Eon UK and National Grid Gas)(Brief article)
May 11, 2007... by Roger Milne The energy regulator is facing a major challenge to its decision to support National Grid Gas over controversial changes to the gas offtake regime for the country's high-pressure National Transmission System (NTS). Eon...

Features.
May 11, 2007... Russia deals Czech utility CEZ and Russia's UES have agreed the first joint venture to build new power plants between a Russian generating company and a foreign supplier. CEZ is also ready to invest up to [euro]3 billion in the...

ELECTRICITYOfgem consults on plans for DNO charging.(News)(Brief article)
May 11, 2007... Ofgem's Gas and Electricity Markets Authority has decided to consult on changes to charging methodologies for independent distribution network operators (iDNOs) and out-of-area DNOs proposed by Western Power Distribution and ScottishPower. ...

Dirty tricks and a trip to Staines.(News)(green claims by Shell misleading, argues Friends of the Earth)(Dale Vince picked yet another award)(overhead powerlines placed underground to prevent blackouts and protect swans)
May 11, 2007... Once upon a time there was an advertising slogan that declared: "You can be sure of Shell." Disconnector is not convinced that it was ever entirely true, and judging by a complaint lodged with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) by...

News.
May 11, 2007... Log on and keep the home fires burning: this is not a promotional pic for bucolic domestic bliss. Pictured are the Ahmed family in their home in Manchester enjoying affordable heat thanks to an award-winning project by the fuel poverty charity...

News.
May 11, 2007... GAS Gas expansion plans questioned Forecasts of future gas consumption in Europe are too optimistic, according to a new report from management consultancy Booz Allen Hamilton. In Security of Demand and Supply: Two Sides of the...

GASScandinavian pipelines a step nearer.(Features)
May 11, 2007... Scandinavia looks set to see the startup by 2009 of two new gas pipeline projects. Norway's Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (MPE) has approved a plan by Gassco to raise [euro]800 million to finance the construction of a pipeline between...

ENVIRONMENTGermany hikes up its green targets.(Features)(Brief article)
May 11, 2007... German environment minister Sigmar Gabriel has announced a major initiative to cut the country's greenhouse emissions by 40 per cent by 2020. The eight-point programme includes a major expansion of renewables and extensive energy-saving...

News.
May 11, 2007... New nuclear plants would use unproven technology and cost the earth, says Greenpeace The nuclear industry is facing "spiralling costs and construction delays", Greenpeace has said in a new report entitled The Economics of Nuclear Power....

News.
May 11, 2007... Putting a cost on stabilisation The IPCC report has calculated the likely impact on global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030 of implementing cost-effective measures to reduce emissions. The scientists estimated that stabilising emissions...

ENERGYPower 'key' to climate change.(News)
May 11, 2007... by Roger Milne Changes in power generation to make electricity greener must be a major focus of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to the latest report from the United Nations' scientific advisers on climate change. ...

Spoilt for choice.(Features)
May 11, 2007... Private equity investors have gobbled up one utility company after another . Nigel Hawkins says they're not finished yet The high-profile acquisition of BAA, which was led by the Spanish infrastructure player Ferrovial, for the thick end of...

Features.
May 11, 2007... Don't expect a flood of water mergers There has been a lot of speculation that the Competition Commission's approval of the merger of South East Water and Mid Kent Water will open the floodgates to water company mergers. Exactly the same...

PAN-UTILTYElection results leave policy posers.(News)(Scottish National Party and Labour Party)(Brief article)
May 11, 2007... Last week's election results in Scotland and Wales have left a policy vacuum as the largest parties in both countries - the Scottish National Party (SNP) and Labour, respectively - ponder whether to form coalitions or try to run the devolved...

Power prices take a tumble.(Features)(measures to reduce risk posed by powerlines)(policy by UK government ensuring sufficient gas storage)
May 11, 2007... Short-term UK electricity prices have fallen to their lowest level since September 2003, with Weekend prices dropping as low as [pounds sterling]16/MWh and Day-ahead dropping to almost [pounds sterling]17/MWh, in the face of an ample supply...

News.
May 11, 2007... WaTER Assembly prepares to take on water Water charges are likely to be top of the agenda in Northern Ireland after the transfer of power to devolved government in the province this week. Northern Ireland Assembly members were due...

ENERGYNational Grid dispute to go to Acas.(News)(Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)(Brief article)
May 11, 2007... National Grid and engineering union Prospect are planning to use the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) to resolve a long-running dispute. The dispute row dates from the merger of National Grid with Lattice to become...

Features.
May 11, 2007... ELECTRICITY As the energy white paper is published, we size up the possibilities for new nuclear development and line up the likely runners and riders INTERVIEW Portsmouth Water technical director Andy Neve explains why his...

Features.
May 11, 2007... GAS Denmark to launch gas exchange Nordpool and Danish transmission system operator Energinet.dk have announced plans to launch a gas exchange. The companies said they had been analysing the proposal since late last year and aimed...

WATEROfwat addresses competition.(News)(licensing water supply )
May 11, 2007... by Steve Hobson Regulator Ofwat has launched two consultation documents outlining options to boost water competition - but has instructed the water companies to act as if the proposed measures took immediate effect. The first...

News.
May 11, 2007... The word on the street: British Gas used a phone text-based scheme for making winter payments for the first time this year. When the company sent out 400,000 winter payments in December it offered customers the option of receiving a barcode on...

White paper heaves into view.(Features)
May 11, 2007... May is set to be very busy for energy policy and related issues. But just how joined up will it all be? The politicking triggered by last week's elections and around the prospects for Gordon Brown as Tony Blair's successor as leader of an...