Policy & Regulation
Policy & Regulation
Ofgem confirms system operator separation
Ofgem has told National Grid to proceed with plans to a create a legally separate company within the group to carry out the system operator role.
Gas
Networks not to blame for price hike, says ENA
The Energy Networks Association (ENA) has said networks cannot be held to blame for the 12.5 per cent price rise announced by British Gas.
Policy & Regulation
Chief engineer aims to bring ‘new technical focus’ to Ofgem
The head of engineering at Ofgem hopes the recently created role will bring a "new technical focus" to the organisation.
Power
Government seeks powers to set smart tech standards
The government will seek powers to set standards for smart appliances and electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints to enable consumers to provide flexibility to the energy system.
Power
Ofgem rules out DNO-owned storage
Ofgem will not allow distribution network operators to own and operate storage, as it fears this could "impede the development of a competitive market for storage and flexibility services".
Power
Government invests £246m in battery technology
The government has launched the first phase of a £246 million investment programme to support research, innovation and the scale-up of battery technology in the UK.
Gas
Network underspends sign of RIIO success
The widespread outperformance of networks against their spending allowances under RIIO may be "evidence of the success, not the failure" of the RIIO price control framework.
Power
Consumer groups to gain more power in RIIO2
Ofgem wants consumer groups to take a leading role in the process of setting the next price controls for energy networks, the regulator's senior partner for networks has said.
Gas
Consumers pose biggest barrier to low-carbon heat
Winning over consumers will be the biggest barrier to the deployment of low-carbon heating, according to a senior figure at Ofgem.
Gas
Gas has ‘important role’ in all foreseeable futures
Gas will continue to play an "important role" in all foreseeable futures for the energy system, according to system operator National Grid.
Heat
BEIS plugs £20m into EV smart charging
The government has announced £20 million of funding to support the development of smart charging technologies, which will enable electric vehicles to help balance the power grid.
Gas
Rise of EVs could add 18GW to peak demand by 2050
The growth of electric vehicles (EVs) could add up to 18GW - or 30 per cent - to peak power demand by 2050, National Grid has predicted in its latest Future Energy Scenarios report.
Gas
Ofgem warns networks to ‘prepare for tougher price controls’
Ofgem has warned energy networks to "prepare for tougher price controls", saying there is "strong evidence" that their investors are willing to accept lower returns.
Gas
Networks set to pocket £7.5bn in ‘unjustified profits’
Energy networks are set to pocket £7.5 billion in "unjustified profits" during the current RIIO price controls, research by Citizens Advice has found.
Power
DNOs still able to ‘game the system’ under RIIO
Regional power networks are being allowed to "game the system" under the RIIO framework, a researcher from the University of Exeter has claimed.
Gas
Ofgem accepts £54m rebate from Cadent
Ofgem has accepted an offer from Cadent to waive £53.9 million of RIIO allowances as part of its mid-period reviews for gas and electricity transmission and gas distribution.
Gas
Solar and battery combo will drive up system costs
The deployment of batteries alongside solar panels will add to the overall cost of the energy system, a leading UK academic has claimed.
Gas
Green fuels needed for long-term energy storage
Government and industry have been implored to "redouble" their efforts to develop green fuels for long-term energy storage to fill the gap left by fossil fuels.
Gas
The future of our power system architecture
The latest findings from the government-sponsored Future Power System Architecture programme are out. Tom Grimwood takes a look at them.
Power
Ofgem still mulling over how to deliver flexible regulation
Ofgem has not yet "figured out" how best to deliver the flexible regulation needed keep up with the accelerating pace of change in the power sector.
Power
New players pose risk to power system
"A host of new players" in the power system pose a risk to its stability if government does not act to help co-ordinate their integration, experts have warned.
Gas
BEIS not ‘jumping to conclusions’ on heat rules
The government is not "jumping to conclusions" about the best way to protect to consumers and investors in the district heating market, a senior official has said.
Power
Ofgem stands firm on cuts to embedded benefits
Ofgem will move ahead with plans to drastically cut the triad avoidance payments available to distributed generators after making a final decision on reforms to embedded benefits.
Power
Carbon Trust launches new initiative to transform energy system
The Carbon Trust has launched a new initiative to unite the energy industry in overcoming key barriers to the transformation of the energy system.
Gas
Barring network-owned storage will raise bills, says UKPN
Prohibiting networks from owning and operating storage will lead to higher bills for consumers, a senior figure at UK Power Networks has argued.
Policy & Regulation
A new world order
The technology is ready, now is the time to concentrate on the commercial and regulatory challenges that surround the DNOs' transition into DSOs, according to Laura Kane of Smarter Grid Solutions.
Policy & Regulation
Health and safety – how we’re getting better
WPD operations director Phil Swift on Powering Improvement
Power
SNP vows to fight ‘punitive’ network charges
The SNP will stand up for Scotland's energy industry by demanding reforms to the UK's "punitive" transmission charging regime, the party has pledged in its election manifesto.
Gas
Call to bolster protections for district heating consumers
The Scottish government is being urged to strengthen consumer protections for households using district heating to bring them in line with those already afforded to gas and electricity customers.
Policy & Regulation
Next RIIO cycle will be shorter, predicts UKPN boss
"On balance, I would predict that ED2 will be somewhat shorter than ED1," the chief executive of UK Power Networks (UKPN) has said.
Heat
Flexible price controls needed for uncertain future
The RIIO2 price controls must be flexible enough to allow networks to adapt to an uncertain future, speakers at Utility Week Live have argued.
