Sector focus

Provision of the necessary utilities to meet the needs of communities, commerce, and industry is one of the unspoken challenges facing the utilities sector in coming years.

The change in the make-up of utilities provision over the past few years continues to evolve. Our practice leaders have experience of many years advising utility organisations on the commercial aspects of their business and on the regulated environment in which they operate for delivery of retail and wholesale services.

Each of these areas is dependent on the core technologies which are utilised to manage and control each aspect of delivery of utilities.

Control and Instrumentation

The ability to control the consumption of energy or to make changes in the way your white goods operate within your home or office or industry environment is now fundamental to the idea of having control over the use of utilities. The concept of the SMART meter is being overtaken by smart houses and offices and remote management systems.

Installation of interconnected management systems for a resilient community
Hub infrastructure for community-based electricity storage
Legal analysis of insertion of storage systems to local network management
Water supply and wastewater services contracts for non-domestic users
Broadband and data fibre system installation.

Transmission Networks

The requirement for grid and network upgrades to meet the change in the methods of generation, the use of storage and the change in demand patterns is known across the electricity industry. The gas industry is less affected. Changing local networks towards a diverse source of supply with interfaced management is a major challenge facing all network operators.

Network management systems
Network connection agreements
Integration of new technologies to network management
Capacity management
Resilience of network and grid to change in generation and frequencies
Application of storage in network management.

Demand and Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is heavily focused on but it may be more appropriate to consider the context of efficiency in the use of all utilities including water and wastewater. The culture in western Europe is that utilities are ‘on tap’ and so rationing of use is not a first consideration in use.

The change in demand and the need for greater efficiency to prevent the cost of utilities going beyond average income affordability in normal use, is a political imperative. Change is inevitable in the way consumers at all levels are to approach demand management and energy efficiency.

Sale of gas network business for major utility
Corporate PPA arrangements with UOS interfaces
Flexible industry and commercial electricity purchase agreements
Installation of zoned metering and instrumentation controls
Sale of gas measurement business
Tariff based arrangements for water consumers
Tariff based arrangements for electricity efficiency measures.

Water and Wastewater

As the water industry in England continues to face challenges, it seems change in structure is inevitable. The Scottish Water GoCo model has served the industry well and is seen as the most efficient way to deliver the obligation of government to supply fresh water as a basic human right.

As with other utilities, demand is set to increase with lack of future provision severely impacting planning process approvals across authorities.

Water regulation and compliance with environmental requirements
Administration of controlled water discharges
Tariff based water supply contracts
Tariff based industrial sewage contracts
Water and wastewater infrastructure
Water supply and wastewater treatment PPP projects
Water company restructuring, commercial and corporate management and compliance.

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Utility and Power Purchase Agreements

As the home and car become potential centres for dispatch of surplus stored electricity to the network or into a community hub, the need to revisit the models used in the sale and purchase of utilities becomes more acute. Models which allow consumers to be paid for non-use or below average use, for gas and water and for re-exporting stored electricity, should be considered again as the market model changes.

Flexible power consumer agreements
Offtake agreements
Energy storage installation and export of power
Water and gas saving agreements
Combined utility service agreements
Direct power purchase agreements (corporate take off and corporate PPA)
Incentive based efficiency agreements.

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

Along with data services, this is the relatively new utility which must be included in the overall provision. The policy change towards EVs is clear and the provision of infrastructure is essential. The pace of change of technology in charging systems, means there is need to maintain flexibility and a model which can adapt to new technology. The challenges are substantial!

Home/office/workplace based EV charging
EV charging payment technology contracts
EV integration to home and office systems
Fleet EV issues
Hub and charging centres
Road plate charging
Storage interface with EV charging systems.

Utility Supply and Management

A refreshed approach to provision of infrastructure, the way it is paid for and the ability to seek long term investment for assets with 50+ years lifespan means there is a changing view of the way in which utilities may be provided.

Companies which specialise in the supply and management of utilities are becoming more prevalent and sourcing funding more readily. Managing utilities within communities is becoming a normal aspect, alongside the traditional provision by the utility companies themselves.

Competition and Markets Authority investigations into utility companies
Joint operating agreements among utility companies
Regulatory compliance for gas and electricity supply licensees
Application and acquisition of electricity and gas supply licenses
Structure and management of energy supply companies (ESCO’s)
Structure and management of multi-utility supply companies (MUSCO’s)
Advice on water and wastewater regulatory compliance and legislative standards
Advice on business separation for domestic and non-domestic water supply
Electricity, gas and energy trading contracts (EFET, ISDA, GTMA, NBP, IETA).