Five things we learnt this week
Connections queue to pause until reforms in place
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has confirmed it will pause new connection applications from later this month in a bid to help smooth incoming reforms to the process. NESO said that in 2023/24 alone 1,700 applications were received and reiterated that current capacity within the queue far exceeds that needed to hit the 2050 net zero target.
Southern CEO: ‘Too soon to say on appeals’
Southern Water’s chief executive has hinted that the company has yet to decide if it will appeal its final determination from Ofwat. Lawrence Gosden said it was an “extraordinarily complicated” process to weigh up whether to seek a redetermination from the Competition and Markets Authority. That is despite Welsh Water announcing it will formally accept Ofwat’s ruling.
Rate of smart meter installations declined in 2024
The number of smart electricity meter installations carried out in Great Britain decreased last year compared to 2023, the latest information from Electralink has revealed. It comes as December 2024 recorded the lowest number of smart installs for that month in five years.
Steve Reed ‘shut out’ public scrutiny of Abingdon reservoir
Environment secretary Steve Reed has been accused of intentionally shutting out public scrutiny of a proposed reservoir in Oxfordshire. Reed is also accused of withholding information about meetings and correspondence with officials from the Environment Agency and Ofwat relating to the proposed Abingdon Reservoir. The accusations are made in official court documents obtained by Utility Week.
Market towns predicted to see boom in EV chargers
Market towns rather than cities will be boom locations for electric vehicle (EV) charge points because usage will be greatest in such settlements, the head of the government’s zero emission transport unit has predicted. Office for Zero Emission Vehicles director Richard Bruce said that the pattern of local charge point uptake will depend on how many homes possess their own drives and the level of public transport use.
