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Octopus has been valued at £1 billion after a £300 million investment from Australian power supplier Origin Energy. Greg Jackson, Octopus' chief executive, tells Utility Week more about plans for the company to invest in a future energy research centre which will be used to conduct modelling with data collected from Octopus’ real-world tariffs and be made available for governments wishing to invest in green technologies.
4 years ago
Richard Power, of law firm Clyde & Co, looks at how the energy transition and its three pillars of digitisation, decentralisation and dispute resolution will significantly impact the types of legal dispute which arise, and potentially deny access to justice.
Yu Group chief executive Bobby Kalar believes business utility customers need more help from the government to recover following the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking to Utility Week Kalar said unprecedented times called for corresponding measures to tackle the economic downturn.
Business secretary Alok Sharma has praised the utilities sector in what he described as an “unparalleled time” for the nation. Utility Week's Keeping Us Connected campaign will be used to urge the government to officially recognise the vital work the sector is doing during the pandemic.
Even before coronavirus, companies were increasingly moving towards a “triple bottom line”, where social and environmental impact are used as measures of success, alongside profit. Richard Wrigley of law firm Shakespeare Martineau looks at the legal issues for a company that is interested in expanding its corporate purpose from that of creating value for shareholders
Energy networks have risen to the incredible challenges resulting from coronavirus with aplomb. However, senior industry figures have raised concerns with Utility Week over how they will cope with a prolonged lockdown and the long-term implications of the pandemic. Jane Gray looks at the key issues.
Eon UK chief executive Michael Lewis tells Utility Week that energy retailers should look at how the water sector is dealing with bad debt during the coronavirus pandemic. He insists that if the situation escalates, the energy retail sector “should not have to bear the risk of the non-collection of costs that suppliers collect on behalf of other parts of the industry”.
Greg Jackson has expressed disappointment that large suppliers are resorting to “traditional energy industry infighting” instead of coming together to help the most vulnerable customers. The Octopus Energy chief executive said he had proposed a standardised form for assisting vulnerable customers but it had not been adopted by the wider sector.
As part of Utility Week’s Keeping Us Connected campaign, we highlight two UK Power Networks employees who are helping their communities battle coronavirus – through delivery of vital PPE and assisting the St John Ambulance.
