Power
First ever fortnight of coal-free operation
National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) has confirmed the first ever fortnight of coal-free operation of Great Britain's electricity system.
Power
Customers overcharged by £24bn due to regulator error, Citizens Advice claims
Regulators have allowed water, energy, broadband and telephone networks to overcharge customers by £24.1 billion over the past 15 years, according to research carried out by Citizens Advice.
Gas
Network Asset Performance Conference 2019
The 2019 Network Asset Performance Conference will bring together leaders from gas & power to help tackle network asset challenges head on. The conference will consist of a range of presentations, case studies and interactive panel sessions and will address how networks can continue to improve asset resilience, the impact RIIO-2 will have on asset management, the importance of data optimisation and how performance can be maintained through the increased introduction of electric vehicles.
Power
Unexploded stash of grenades unearthed by power engineers
Engineers from SP Energy Networks discovered a stash of 70 unexploded Home Guard phosphorous grenades while carrying out routine improvement works in Dumfries & Galloway.
Gas
Ofgem confirms RIIO2 price control methodology
Ofgem has confirmed plans to almost slash in half the returns that energy networks can make.
Power
UKPN reveals electricity network control system plans
Network operator UK Power Networks has unveiled plans for what it claims is the world's most advanced electricity network control system.
Power
Aberdeen substation transformed
An Aberdeen substation has been transformed into a colourful boombox mural thanks to a collaboration between the local community and an international artist.
Heat
Need for EV infrastructure highlighted at Utility Week Live
A representative from the Office for Low Emissions Vehicles (OLEV) has set out the types of infrastructure required to support the rollout of electric vehicles.
Gas
Meeting net zero target requires urgent electricity system overhaul
The operation of the electricity system must be urgently overhauled if the UK is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, without burdening consumers with unnecessary costs, an industry figure has warned.
Gas
Vattenfall wins first power network contract in UK
Vattenfall Networks, the UK's newest independent electricity network provider, has won its first distribution network contract with Helvellyn Group.
Gas
Investing in the energy decarbonisation transformation benefits consumers
National Grid's head of regulatory finance, Darren Pettifer, says that Ofgem's plans to slash in half the returns that energy networks can earn could put at risk a once in a generation opportunity to transform the energy system, and prevent longer-term benefits to consumers.
Power
WPD announces results from latest flexibility tender
Western Power Distribution (WPD) has awarded flexibility contracts totalling 21.5MW through its Flexible Power offering following the completion of its latest procurement round.
Power
Energy CEOs call for gender balance at senior level
The leaders of eight of the UK's leading energy companies have called for a push to drive up the number of women at senior levels in the energy sector.
Gas
Drone project begins flight trials on energy network assets
A project, exploring how drone technology can be used to inspect network infrastructure, is set to begin conducting trials on both the electricity and gas networks this spring.
Gas
Document reveals Labour plan to nationalise energy networks
Plans to put Britain's energy networks back under state ownership have been revealed in a Labour party document.
Power
UKPN announces flexibility tender results
UK Power Networks has announced the results of a tender to procure flexible energy services.
Heat
ScottishPower pledges to make Glasgow UK’s first ‘net zero’ city
ScottishPower, along with Glasgow City Council, is aiming to transform Glasgow into the UK's first 'net zero' city.
Power
An effective way to reduce cable failures
Tony Walker, applications engineer for HV cable diagnostics and fault location at Megger, discusses the benefits of partial discharge (PD) testing.
Power
£3m investment to upgrade network in North Ayrshire
SP Energy Networks is carrying out a £3 million upgrade to its electricity network in North Ayrshire.
Gas
Considering the impacts of localised energy
At a roundtable event organised by Network in association with National Grid, delegates were invited to consider the beneficial impact of localised energy in supporting the whole energy system.
Power
Reclaiming and recognising asset management
In an ever-changing energy system landscape, the ability to manage assets is often high up on the agenda for utility companies. During a roundtable event - organised by Network in association with Siemens - key figures from the industry met to discuss asset management. Adam John reports.
Power
Total tapchanger solutions
Dr Jonathan Hiscock, managing director of Fundamentals Ltd, explains why tapchanger servicing is so important.
Heat
Short interruptions matter
With regulatory and technological changes afoot, the issue of reliability is never far from the top of the agenda for many in the regulatory sector. While much has been said about the need to avoid long power outages, has the issue of smaller interruptions been ignored? Network spoke to S&C Electric Company's director of regulatory affairs, Christopher Watts and its EMEA sales director, Jonathan Hopkins about why short interruptions matter, what can be done to avoid them, and what other solutions will improve grid reliability for the network of tomorrow.
Heat
Dealing with weather events
Alex Prentice, sector lead for utilities at Huntswood, examines how networks can prepare for a significant rise in customer complaints and queries around extreme weather events.
Heat
Decarbonisation driving change at ENW
Electricity North West is putting decarbonisation at the heart of its plans. Alec Peachey spoke to chief executive Peter Emery about a number of subjects including the company's drive to reduce carbon emissions, regulation, infrastructure - and how they're performing against the backdrop of a strategic review that could lead to a sale of the business.
Heat
New energy storage research network setup
The Birmingham Centre for Energy Storage (BCES) will lead a new energy storage research network.
Heat
The benefits of flexibility
Graham Ault, executive director at Smarter Grid Solutions, discusses the key values that flexibility can bring to an economically developed and operated grid.
Gas
£20m project to modernise electricity network in Fife
SP Energy Networks has started a major £20 million project to modernise a key part of the power network in Central and Southern Scotland.
Heat
ENW confirms customer engagement group appointments
Eight industry experts have been appointed to Electricity North West's newly-formed customer engagement group.
Power
SSEN provides £20m network boost
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has invested £20 million in the electricity infrastructure that serves the Ridgeway area of central southern England over the last two years.
Gas
Networks can help UK meet net zero emissions target
Energy networks will be at the heart of the Committee on Climate Change's (CCC) recommendations to move beyond an 80% target and deliver net zero emissions by 2050.