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?  

Chair
James Wallin, Editor-in-Chief - Utility Week

Panel
Helen Wakeham, Director of Water - EA
Chris Walters, Interim Chief Executive - Ofwat
David Satti, Chief Executive - WICS

Tim is expected to look ahead to the next phase of net zero, the system-wide changes needed so consumers see real benefits, and, in light of the situation in the Middle East, the role innovation, particularly data and digital, can play in building a more efficient and resilient system.

Chair
James Wallin, Editor-in-Chief - Utility Week

Speaker
Tim Jarvis, Interim, Chief Executive - Ofgem

 

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? 

Sponsored by: 

Chair
James Wallin, Editor-in-Chief - Utility Week

Panel
Steve McMahon, Director for Network Price Controls - Ofgem
Will Steggals, Head of UK Regulatory Strategy - National Grid
Edd Burton, Head of Advisory, UK & Ireland - Aecom
Cheryl Steventon, Director - RAPID/Ofwat

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 

Chair
James Wallin, Editor-in-Chief - Utility Week

Speaker
Nigel Cann, Chief Executive - Sizewell C

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?

Chair and scene setting
Jo Causon, Chief Executive - Institute of Customer Service

Panel
Louise Hunter, Director of Customer and Corporate Services - Northumbrian Water Group
Suleman Alli, Director of Customer Service, Strategy, Regulation and Technology - UK Power Networks
Lucinda Scott, Customer Director - First Direct

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? 

Chair
James Wallin, Editor-in-Chief - Utility Week

Panel
Jennifer Pemberton, Head of RESP Regions - South and Wales - NESO
Lynne McDonald, Head of Local Net Zero - UKPN
Charles Wood, Deputy Director - Energy UK
Philip Glanville, Director of Advocacy and Engagement - UK100