Five top stories this week
Ex-Southern boss charged with conspiracy to defraud Environment Agency
The Environment Agency (EA) is bringing criminal charges against the ex-CEO of Southern Water and three other former employees over allegations they manipulated tests. Matthew Wright, who led the company between 2011 and 2016, and the other ex-staff members are facing charges of "conspiracy to defraud" the EA and Ofwat.
Efra chair: Water boss bonus ban being ‘trashed left, right and centre’
The spirit of the bonus ban for water company chief executives is being “trashed left, right and centre”, according to the chair of parliament's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. In an interview with Utility Week, Alistair Carmichael said Ofwat’s rules designed to clamp down on performance related executive pay in the water sector are “manifestly not working”.
ICO declines Coutinho request to investigate NESO allegations
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has declined to investigate the allegations that National Energy System Operator has been deliberately altering its operational record-keeping, as requested by shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho earlier in the month. Responding to her request, Warren Seddon, ICO director of FOI and transparency, wrote a letter to Coutinho on 20 July, seen by Utility Week, saying “many of the concerns raised in your letter extend far beyond access to information law”.
SSEN urges networks to adopt common tool for ‘build and flex’ era
SSEN Distribution is urging other electricity distribution network operators to adopt a cost benefit analysis tool it has developed to help the sector navigate Ofgem’s forthcoming “build and flex” approach. Nigel Bessant, SSEN head of network operations, told Utility Week that a common industry approach will be critical as networks are asked to combine reinforcement with flexibility during the next electricity distribution price control period (ED3).
Octopus raises concerns over gas dominance of Demand Flexibility Service
Octopus Energy has raised concerns about the National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) heavy reliance on gas in its Demand Flexibility Service (DFS). Kieron Stopforth, head of flexibility at Octopus, told Utility Week that on “some days, the DFS has 80% of its volume being supplied by gas generators”. According to NESO’s DFS data, independent power producer Infinis has provided nearly two-thirds of flexibility volume over recent months. The company is the largest generator of electricity from landfill gas in the UK.
Ex-Southern boss charged with conspiracy to defraud Environment Agency
The Environment Agency (EA) is bringing criminal charges against the ex-CEO of Southern Water and three other former employees over allegations they manipulated tests. Matthew Wright, who led the company between 2011 and 2016, and the other ex-staff members are facing charges of "conspiracy to defraud" the EA and Ofwat.
Efra chair: Water boss bonus ban being ‘trashed left, right and centre’
The spirit of the bonus ban for water company chief executives is being “trashed left, right and centre”, according to the chair of parliament's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. In an interview with Utility Week, Alistair Carmichael said Ofwat’s rules designed to clamp down on performance related executive pay in the water sector are “manifestly not working”.
ICO declines Coutinho request to investigate NESO allegations
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has declined to investigate the allegations that National Energy System Operator has been deliberately altering its operational record-keeping, as requested by shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho earlier in the month. Responding to her request, Warren Seddon, ICO director of FOI and transparency, wrote a letter to Coutinho on 20 July, seen by Utility Week, saying “many of the concerns raised in your letter extend far beyond access to information law”.
SSEN urges networks to adopt common tool for ‘build and flex’ era
SSEN Distribution is urging other electricity distribution network operators to adopt a cost benefit analysis tool it has developed to help the sector navigate Ofgem’s forthcoming “build and flex” approach. Nigel Bessant, SSEN head of network operations, told Utility Week that a common industry approach will be critical as networks are asked to combine reinforcement with flexibility during the next electricity distribution price control period (ED3).
Octopus raises concerns over gas dominance of Demand Flexibility Service
Octopus Energy has raised concerns about the National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) heavy reliance on gas in its Demand Flexibility Service (DFS). Kieron Stopforth, head of flexibility at Octopus, told Utility Week that on “some days, the DFS has 80% of its volume being supplied by gas generators”. According to NESO’s DFS data, independent power producer Infinis has provided nearly two-thirds of flexibility volume over recent months. The company is the largest generator of electricity from landfill gas in the UK.
