David Watson
@davidawatson.bsky.social
I help people work through questions about energy and the energy transition.
Energy Policy | Strategy | Regulation
Energy Policy | Strategy | Regulation
Ineos cite carbon taxes as the primary driver behind £430m loss
buff.ly
January 6, 2026 at 7:55 AM
Ineos cite carbon taxes as the primary driver behind £430m loss
Florida set to build wireless EV road charging infrastructure, where cars charge whilst on the move.
Expect this tech to take time and start small - but ultimately grow and scale.
Expect this tech to take time and start small - but ultimately grow and scale.
Florida to trial wireless EV charging highway
The Central Florida Expressway Authority will incorporate an ‘electrified roadway’ in the State Road 516 Lake/Orange Expressway.
buff.ly
January 5, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Florida set to build wireless EV road charging infrastructure, where cars charge whilst on the move.
Expect this tech to take time and start small - but ultimately grow and scale.
Expect this tech to take time and start small - but ultimately grow and scale.
Underlying profitability at Octopus Energy fell 69% in the year to April 2025 as costs increase
buff.ly
January 5, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Underlying profitability at Octopus Energy fell 69% in the year to April 2025 as costs increase
It is hard to continue delivering 1%/yr efficiency gains when your fixed cost base remains largely... fixed.
That said, digitalisation and AI present opportunities.
It does require Ofgem to fund programmes in that space, however.
That said, digitalisation and AI present opportunities.
It does require Ofgem to fund programmes in that space, however.
'Unrealistic' RIIO3 productivity target likely to lead to appeals - Utility Week
Ofgem’s decision to set an ongoing efficiency (OE) target of 1% for the next price control period is likely to be appealed by companies across both electricity and gas, Utility Week understands.…
buff.ly
December 22, 2025 at 1:55 PM
It is hard to continue delivering 1%/yr efficiency gains when your fixed cost base remains largely... fixed.
That said, digitalisation and AI present opportunities.
It does require Ofgem to fund programmes in that space, however.
That said, digitalisation and AI present opportunities.
It does require Ofgem to fund programmes in that space, however.
New heat network standards will be a big story next year, leaseholders likely footing the bill.
"Complying with these technical standards is going to be extremely expensive ... there are going to require a lot to be ripped out and completely replaced" buff.ly/IUfEMQV
"Complying with these technical standards is going to be extremely expensive ... there are going to require a lot to be ripped out and completely replaced" buff.ly/IUfEMQV
December 22, 2025 at 11:55 AM
New heat network standards will be a big story next year, leaseholders likely footing the bill.
"Complying with these technical standards is going to be extremely expensive ... there are going to require a lot to be ripped out and completely replaced" buff.ly/IUfEMQV
"Complying with these technical standards is going to be extremely expensive ... there are going to require a lot to be ripped out and completely replaced" buff.ly/IUfEMQV
The reports in Utility Week about the Energy Secretary positioning himself for as the 'next Chancellor' are notable for the number of supportive quotes by "allies" or "supporters" of Ed Miliband.
buff.ly/tOtcfYT
buff.ly/tOtcfYT
Weekend press: Miliband ‘pitching himself as next chancellor' - Utility Week
In our latest review of sector coverage in national media, the soft left of the Labour Party is preparing for current energy secretary Ed Miliband to become the next chancellor. Meanwhile, there is…
buff.ly
December 22, 2025 at 9:55 AM
The reports in Utility Week about the Energy Secretary positioning himself for as the 'next Chancellor' are notable for the number of supportive quotes by "allies" or "supporters" of Ed Miliband.
buff.ly/tOtcfYT
buff.ly/tOtcfYT
Govt have written to suppliers to say they expect customers on fixed term deals will also benefit from RO / ECO changes in April next year.
Link: buff.ly/xI14n2o
Link: buff.ly/xI14n2o
December 18, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Govt have written to suppliers to say they expect customers on fixed term deals will also benefit from RO / ECO changes in April next year.
Link: buff.ly/xI14n2o
Link: buff.ly/xI14n2o
Murray Auchincloss is out as BP CEO, Meg O’Neill is in. Reuters article with reaction from investors here 👇
buff.ly/6ozkk3y
buff.ly/6ozkk3y
www.reuters.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Murray Auchincloss is out as BP CEO, Meg O’Neill is in. Reuters article with reaction from investors here 👇
buff.ly/6ozkk3y
buff.ly/6ozkk3y
The Matched team have updated their clean power index to include nuclear.
This means BG are now above Octopus for clean energy on this basis.
buff.ly/NUzmX1y
This means BG are now above Octopus for clean energy on this basis.
buff.ly/NUzmX1y
December 17, 2025 at 3:55 PM
The Matched team have updated their clean power index to include nuclear.
This means BG are now above Octopus for clean energy on this basis.
buff.ly/NUzmX1y
This means BG are now above Octopus for clean energy on this basis.
buff.ly/NUzmX1y
This new grid data tool from Ben Watts is super-cool. Gas and elec prices, constraint costs, supply mix plus more. All real-time. Very good. 👇 buff.ly/aHinDNR
Kilowatts.io - Live GB Electricity Grid Dashboard
Live GB grid dashboard showing frequency, wholesale prices, wind & solar forecasts, generation mix, carbon intensity, network constraints, and balancing costs.
buff.ly
December 17, 2025 at 1:55 PM
This new grid data tool from Ben Watts is super-cool. Gas and elec prices, constraint costs, supply mix plus more. All real-time. Very good. 👇 buff.ly/aHinDNR
Shell's Head of M&A left his post earlier this year after failing to convince the CEO and CFO to buy BP, reports the FT - as per article below 👇
Shell mergers head left after bid for BP blocked - FT | Financial News
Shell mergers head left after bid for BP blocked - FT | Financial News
buff.ly
December 17, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Shell's Head of M&A left his post earlier this year after failing to convince the CEO and CFO to buy BP, reports the FT - as per article below 👇
The INEOS ethylene plant at Grangemouth has been saved from closure after a government support deal was struck (£)
buff.ly
December 17, 2025 at 9:55 AM
The INEOS ethylene plant at Grangemouth has been saved from closure after a government support deal was struck (£)
I think it's correct to argue that data centre demand growth will create more of a need for gas power generation in the short term.
I also think it's correct to point to the barriers in building new gas power generation. It's neither quick nor cheap.
I also think it's correct to point to the barriers in building new gas power generation. It's neither quick nor cheap.
buff.ly
December 3, 2025 at 5:55 PM
I think it's correct to argue that data centre demand growth will create more of a need for gas power generation in the short term.
I also think it's correct to point to the barriers in building new gas power generation. It's neither quick nor cheap.
I also think it's correct to point to the barriers in building new gas power generation. It's neither quick nor cheap.
Energy suppliers called on to pass through the full reduction in energy policy costs to those on fixed term deals.
Energy giants under pressure to pass on £150 bill cut to fixed tariff customers
EXCLUSIVE: Labour Ministers have asked energy firms to ensure bills fall from April.
buff.ly
December 3, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Energy suppliers called on to pass through the full reduction in energy policy costs to those on fixed term deals.
On demand-side connections, Ofgem received 80GW of connection requests in six months. Unprecedented.
Connections queue paused for new connections. Question of what happens when unpaused.
Tension between network capacity, build-out and support for growth.
Connections queue paused for new connections. Question of what happens when unpaused.
Tension between network capacity, build-out and support for growth.
November 25, 2025 at 11:55 AM
On demand-side connections, Ofgem received 80GW of connection requests in six months. Unprecedented.
Connections queue paused for new connections. Question of what happens when unpaused.
Tension between network capacity, build-out and support for growth.
Connections queue paused for new connections. Question of what happens when unpaused.
Tension between network capacity, build-out and support for growth.
At the opening of the Utility Week Forum and hear the first keynote speaker Lawrence Gosden of Southern Water has been delayed on stage because of a citizens arrest in the lobby downstairs 😮
November 25, 2025 at 9:39 AM
At the opening of the Utility Week Forum and hear the first keynote speaker Lawrence Gosden of Southern Water has been delayed on stage because of a citizens arrest in the lobby downstairs 😮
SSE's proposal to extend the time developers have to hit milestones by the same number of days NESO delay connection offers is sensible. It's unfortunate, but also unrealistic to expect developers to take the hit from delays implementing reform.
SSE seeks milestone extensions for projects affected by connection delays - Utility Week
SSE has asked for transmission projects affected by delays to the re-ordering of the connections queue to be allowed equivalent extensions to the queue management milestones requiring them to make…
buff.ly
November 24, 2025 at 9:55 AM
SSE's proposal to extend the time developers have to hit milestones by the same number of days NESO delay connection offers is sensible. It's unfortunate, but also unrealistic to expect developers to take the hit from delays implementing reform.
NESO announce a delay of 'several months' to the release of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan - the centre piece blueprint for the sector. May have impacts for the other strategic and regional plans - and for development of network capacity.
Not good news.
Not good news.
Strategic energy plan delayed by ‘several months’ - Utility Week
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has postponed the release of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan by “several months". NESO said the delay is necessary to incorporate fresh government data on…
buff.ly
November 24, 2025 at 7:55 AM
NESO announce a delay of 'several months' to the release of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan - the centre piece blueprint for the sector. May have impacts for the other strategic and regional plans - and for development of network capacity.
Not good news.
Not good news.
This list of heat network projects in development, published today, shows the shift happening.
Projects underway: largely air / water source heat pump, EfW, biomass...
Projects cancelled: largely CHP...
Projects underway: largely air / water source heat pump, EfW, biomass...
Projects cancelled: largely CHP...
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buff.ly
November 20, 2025 at 9:55 AM
This list of heat network projects in development, published today, shows the shift happening.
Projects underway: largely air / water source heat pump, EfW, biomass...
Projects cancelled: largely CHP...
Projects underway: largely air / water source heat pump, EfW, biomass...
Projects cancelled: largely CHP...
People would be shocked if they saw how many cyber threats UK energy utilities deal with on a daily basis. It's huge.
The resources available are asymmetric, and a hacker only needs to win once.
We need to fund cyber security properly.
The resources available are asymmetric, and a hacker only needs to win once.
We need to fund cyber security properly.
Utilities being targetted by cyber hackers - Energy Live News
Almost half of all small and micro utility firms were attacked this past year
buff.ly
November 6, 2025 at 1:55 PM
People would be shocked if they saw how many cyber threats UK energy utilities deal with on a daily basis. It's huge.
The resources available are asymmetric, and a hacker only needs to win once.
We need to fund cyber security properly.
The resources available are asymmetric, and a hacker only needs to win once.
We need to fund cyber security properly.
Pilots. Trials. Feasibility studies.
Then one morning, sensors detect a fault, AI reconfigures things to fix it and no engineer leaves the depot.
The future stops being theoretical when it solves today's problems.
Then one morning, sensors detect a fault, AI reconfigures things to fix it and no engineer leaves the depot.
The future stops being theoretical when it solves today's problems.
Energy network, heal thyself - Utility Week
Self-healing grids present an enticing vision of a more resilient, efficient and affordable energy system, write Steven Steer and David Elliman of Zühlke.
buff.ly
November 6, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Pilots. Trials. Feasibility studies.
Then one morning, sensors detect a fault, AI reconfigures things to fix it and no engineer leaves the depot.
The future stops being theoretical when it solves today's problems.
Then one morning, sensors detect a fault, AI reconfigures things to fix it and no engineer leaves the depot.
The future stops being theoretical when it solves today's problems.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is well-intentioned but failing. Many homes will never be able to afford a heat pump.
We means test benefits. But a £7.5k heat pump grant goes to anyone who can already bridge a £5.5k gap. It's not a sustainable vision of heat decarbonisation.
We means test benefits. But a £7.5k heat pump grant goes to anyone who can already bridge a £5.5k gap. It's not a sustainable vision of heat decarbonisation.
November 6, 2025 at 9:55 AM
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is well-intentioned but failing. Many homes will never be able to afford a heat pump.
We means test benefits. But a £7.5k heat pump grant goes to anyone who can already bridge a £5.5k gap. It's not a sustainable vision of heat decarbonisation.
We means test benefits. But a £7.5k heat pump grant goes to anyone who can already bridge a £5.5k gap. It's not a sustainable vision of heat decarbonisation.
Ovo Energy see the CEO and CFO step down. Former CEO Chris Houghton lined up for a return.
Eighteen months is barely enough time to understand the business. How much can really change?
buff.ly/fFnDImm
Eighteen months is barely enough time to understand the business. How much can really change?
buff.ly/fFnDImm
Former cost of living tsar Buttress quits Ovo after 18 months
David Buttress, who joined Ovo Energy in May 2024, is to step down as the company continues a quest to raise hundreds of millions of pounds in fresh capital from investors, Sky News learns.
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Ovo Energy see the CEO and CFO step down. Former CEO Chris Houghton lined up for a return.
Eighteen months is barely enough time to understand the business. How much can really change?
buff.ly/fFnDImm
Eighteen months is barely enough time to understand the business. How much can really change?
buff.ly/fFnDImm
Tomato Energy has ceased trading today.
It had ~15k domestic customers and 8k non-domestic customers and had been the subject of a number of regulatory investigations, incl capital adequacy and liquidity.
A new supplier for their customers will now be found.
It had ~15k domestic customers and 8k non-domestic customers and had been the subject of a number of regulatory investigations, incl capital adequacy and liquidity.
A new supplier for their customers will now be found.
Ofgem protects customers of Tomato Energy
Tomato Energy has today announced it is ceasing to trade. Customers’ energy supply will continue and funds that domestic customers have paid into their accounts, including existing credit balances,…
buff.ly
November 5, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Tomato Energy has ceased trading today.
It had ~15k domestic customers and 8k non-domestic customers and had been the subject of a number of regulatory investigations, incl capital adequacy and liquidity.
A new supplier for their customers will now be found.
It had ~15k domestic customers and 8k non-domestic customers and had been the subject of a number of regulatory investigations, incl capital adequacy and liquidity.
A new supplier for their customers will now be found.