Reform UK has radical plans for the energy industry, if elected – nothing short of scrapping net zero targets, ditching heat pumps and the mandated shift to electric vehicles and rolling out fracking and a new generation of gas and nuclear. They’ve also raised the prospect of bringing water, and other key utilities, into part-public ownership. With Reform UK topping many polls for the next general election, we ask their energy spokesman how these plans would be implemented in practice, and what the shifting political landscape means for utilities today. 

The energy sector is experiencing a pivotal moment. Achieving clean power, heat, industry and transport will require more than incremental change—it demands a complete reimagining of how our energy system operates. As collaboration across stakeholders intensifies, there is an urgent need for smarter integration, greater coordination and bold innovation. This session explores the systemic shifts needed to unlock a resilient, efficient, and decarbonised energy future and the requirement to stride away from siloed policy.   

• How are different bodies collaborating to align objectives?   
• How can the industry better integrate systems and coordinate planning to achieve our collective ambitions to deliver decarbonisation affordably and at pace?  
• To what extent is energy flexibility being embedded into planning?  
• What role to different energy vectors have to play in meeting these aims?
• How can we work more effectively together?What is the call to action for the industry?  
• How can we prioritise energy security? 
• How can policy and regulation enable this to happen? 

As the UK water sector faces unprecedented change, this is a moment to lead with vision and confidence. How can water company leaders not only navigate a shifting regulatory landscape but also inspire progress and innovation? 
This session looks ahead to how the sector can strengthen resilience, rebuild trust, and secure long-term water security—while embracing transformation to create the water industry of the future.

Water and energy are the backbone of the UK’s economic success and its ambition to become a global leader in AI and advanced digital technologies. To achieve this, utilities are in a period of long-term planning and delivery to increase water resource and secure clean, reliable energy. At the same time, these networks must safeguard the environment and guarantee security of supply for future generations. Can utilities balance economic growth and sustainability?

• How are utilities mindfully investing and growing networks to ensure security of supply?  
• How are utilities engaging with industrial and commercial customers to ensure they meet future demand? 
• How do we balance competing priorities of environment, communities and infrastructure investment? 

Organisations play a critical role in actively shaping progress for women through visible role modelling and different approaches to achieving diversity. Join the Women Utilities Network (WUN) and senior leaders to hear short, honest reflections on the approaches their organisations have taken, from voluntary commitments to mandated targets and structural change.

• What are the biggest lessons learned from these approached?
• How have these approaches have affected women’s confidence, opportunity and sense of belonging
• How can leadership behaviours influence culture?
• How are different models of intervention are experienced by women?
• How can organisations create change that is credible and sustainable?

AI and digitalisation are transforming the way utility networks and retailers operate – unlocking opportunities to boost efficiency, enhance planning and streamline delivery. How can the industry shift the narrative from fearing human replacement to embracing how these technologies empower people and enhance their roles? This session demystifies what AI and digitalisation really mean for utilities and examines where the industry is on its transformation journey.

• Where are utilities seeing the most meaningful, real‑world impact from AI and digitalisation today? 
• How is the sector progressing with its digitalisation plans? 
• How are you upskilling and supporting employees to use digital and AI tools effectively? 
• Are there any guardrails the industry should consider to support adopting AI responsibly?  

Utility Week Flex Awards are back for a third year, celebrating innovators dedicated to advancing energy flexibility. 

The Awards celebrate pioneers and unearth the companies and individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to pioneering solutions in energy flexibility. Your project or trial does not need to be complete, entries covering live trials and projects will be accepted. The judges are looking for bold thinking, tangible progress and insights that are advancing the sector. For more information on entries head over to the website:  https://www.flexawards.co.uk/welcome

The Cunliffe Review marks the most significant overhaul of the UK water sector since privatisation. With recommendations aimed at creating a reset in regulation, governance, and infrastructure planning. Since the publication of the recommendations and the subsequent white paper, how is the water sector responding? 

• What aspect of this new vision gives you the most confidence that meaningful, long‑term reform is finally achievable?
• How will water companies and government work together more effectively under this new framework? 
• How do you think this integrated model will improve clarity, speed, and coordination across the sector? 
• How will the proposed reforms help build a stable environment to support the sector’s long term planning?  

Regulatory frameworks in the utilities sector often create cycles of peaks and troughs in investment, resource planning and delivery, making it increasingly difficult for the supply chain to commit to long-term workforce planning, innovation, and sustainability. Misaligned electoral cycles, regulatory price review timelines and the long‑term horizons needed for major infrastructure projects are creating competing priorities that make planning increasingly uncertain for the industry.  In the face of enduring challenges such as climate change, technological advancement and infrastructure resilience, this raises a fundamental question: is the current model still fit for purpose?  

• To what extent are UK politics and election cycles creating different priorities and impacting UK infrastructure investment and delivery?  
• How can government and industry better align visions to enable mobilising workforce for action? 
• How can regulators, utilities and the supply chain collaborate to provide more long term certainty in a time of constrained resources? 
• How can government and industry better align visions to mobilise the workforce for action? 
• How do regulatory price control cycles affect innovation investment needed for net zero and broader sustainability advancements? 

What is the role of nuclear in the energy transition and what can the rest of the sector learn from the colossal projects underway to usher in the next era of nuclear power? 
Find out in this interview with Nigel Cann, chief executive of the Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk. In conversation with Utility Week editor-in-chief James Wallin, he will discuss: 

• Learnings from his 40-plus years in nuclear, from apprentice to chief executive 
• The latest updates on Sizewell C 
• How nuclear fits into the wider decarbonisation strategy 
• The secrets to delivering big infrastructure projects 

Utilities have a responsibility to not only meet technical operational needs and regulated required but to also serve their customer base and community in which they operate. To hold up their social license to operate, utilities must go beyond legal compliance and deliver social value from their infrastructure to their billing. This required a robust level of stakeholder engagement, protecting the environment and ensuring trust and legitimacy to operations. What does the customer of the future want? How can utilities embrace AI to improve customer experience and trust between utilities and end users? How do we deliver and deploy infrastructure, LCT and innovation in a more complex environment? What are customer expectations on balancing affordability, sustainability and security of supply? Is the PSR fit got purpose?

Nearly two years on from the establishment of the National Energy Systems Operator, the role of local and regional planning has risen up the agenda. How are local politicians acting for the best of their local community while still contributing to the national ambition of a clean energy system? Join this session to unearth the placed based strategies to protect vulnerable communities, best serve communities and customers of the future and strategically plan the UK’s energy system.

• How do utilities balance national priorities and the local community ? 
• How does community energy play into this  future of the grid?   
• How do utilities need to adapt for the customer and /or community of the future ? 
• How do we ensure continuous and improved support for vulnerable customers?