Company strategy

United Utilities joins top 50 global sustainable companies

North West water company United Utilities will join a list of the 50 most sustainable companies worldwide. Established in 2007 by the Hannover Stock Exchange and ISS ESG, the Global Challenges Index (GCX) is reviewed twice a year and is designed to help investors identify companies which are pioneering ways to overcome seven global challenges

Getting back to work: An update on furlough

The major energy suppliers have told Utility Week that most of the 11,000 workers furloughed during the lockdown have now been brought back. However, industry observers have warned that with the government adamant furlough will not return and suppliers set to face a financial squeeze in the winter, job cuts could be on the horizon.

Ovo Energy appoints new CEO

Ovo has announced the appointment of a new chief executive of Ovo Energy, as well as a new director of corporate affairs.

SSE: Net zero delay is not zero cost

Nuclear sector pledges lessons from Hinkley will drive costs down

Effortless Energy becomes second supplier of 2020 to fail

Effortless Energy (trading as Go Effortless Energy) has become the second supplier to fail in 2020, and the first since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Utility Week recently revealed that the Stoke-based supplier was looking to exit the market, having previously entered level two credit default with code administrators Elexon.

To futureproof asset management build on a solid data foundation

The foundations of emerging asset management applications are data and analytics. Gowri Rajappan and Tony McGrail of Doble explore the importance of ensuring this information is accurately maintained and available on demand to various applications.

Charities brand Centrica’s treatment of vulnerable ‘unacceptable’

Smart meter installations down 86% over second quarter

Robin Hood acquisition bid led to ‘strained relations’

Robin Hood Energy (RHE) and Nottingham City Council faced strained relations after the latter prevented the supplier from making two acquisitions, a report has found. Nottingham City Council has accepted every recommendation made in auditor Grant Thornton's report into RHE's governance.

Mandating non-domestic smart meters ‘makes sense’

CMA ‘on track’ to deliver PR19 redeterminations next month

The Competition and Markets Authority has told Utility Week it expects to hit its deadline of mid-September to deliver its first take on the appeals by four water companies to Ofwat's final determinations on their AMP7 business plans. All eyes will be on any adjustments to WACC, what value is placed on customer input and the levels of investment permitted.

Ofgem reveals renewables obligation for 2019/20

Energy regulator Ofgem has revealed how many renewables obligation certificates (ROCs) it issued in the 2019/20 year. The renewables obligation requires licenced electricity suppliers to source a proportion of the electricity they supply to customers from renewable sources.

Net zero is not pie in the sky – but it will take fundamental changes

Net zero by 2050 can be achieved but only if consumers change how they think about energy, according to Louis Burford, of Centrica Business Solutions. He sets out his view that this societal shift will only be possible through action from government and pinpointing the right incentives.

NI Water warns under-funding has left it in ‘critical’ state