Utilities
Electric, water, and gas utility companies. Regulated and unregulated utility sector developments.
Sizewell B wins 20-year life extension to 2055 at £70.50/MWh
The UK government and EDF have agreed draft Head of Terms to keep Sizewell B operating until 2055 under a Contract for Difference at £70.50/MWh, with £800m in refurbishment investment planned.
Severn Trent escapes Ofwat fine despite sewage breaches
Ofwat found Severn Trent Water in 'serious and unacceptable' breach of wastewater duties but declined to impose a financial penalty, citing the company's £98m proactive investment.
PJM grid hit 163 GW near-record demand; wholesale power prices tripled
PJM Interconnection recorded approximately 163 GW of electricity demand on 3 July 2026, approaching its 2006 all-time peak of 165.6 GW, as wholesale power prices on the grid tripled. PJM issued a maximum generation alert and federal emergency actions requested consumer curtailment to avoid blackouts.
European heatwave drives UK power import costs to six times normal rate
European electricity prices reached record premiums on 23 June 2026 as Great Britain's power import costs rose to six times their normal rate; the UK's National Grid issued a rare summer supply warning for Wednesday evening, and Britain's grid operator called for increased generation capacity on 24 June 2026.
NESO declares UK electricity supplies secure amid Iran conflict disruptions
NESO's head of resilience stated on 23 June 2026 that UK domestic electricity supplies would remain secure over winter, citing resilience against Iran conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruptions. No market price movements were reported in response.
UK government opposes £10bn Thames Water rescue deal
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds has written to Ofwat calling the creditor-led £10bn rescue of Thames Water 'weak', pushing Britain's largest water utility closer to temporary nationalisation.