The most recent articles from VNU Business Publications

Tories back smart meters for every home

Parliamentary reporter — 2008-06-16T13:45:00.000Z

Parliamentary reporter, Computing, Monday 16 June 2008 at 13:45:00

Rollout would "revolutionise" energy use, says David Cameron

Conservative leader David Cameron has committed his party to "ensuring that smart meters are installed in every home in the country"....

Energy companies fund software boom

Martin Courtney — 2008-05-27T17:17:00.000Z

Martin Courtney, Computing, Tuesday 27 May 2008 at 17:17:00

Oil, gas and power companies spending heavily

British software company Aveva Group saw annual profit for the year ended 31 March 2008 rise 92 per cent to £34.2m from £17.8m the year before....

Accenture slams Centrica's "baseless" claim

Janie Davies — 2008-05-12T17:36:00.000Z

Janie Davies, Computing, Monday 12 May 2008 at 17:36:00

Accenture, being sued by Centrica, has accused the power giant of shifting blame

Accenture has hit back at energy supplier Centrica saying that it is shifting the blame for "a situation it created"....

Mobile technology supports EDF maintenance

Janie Davies — 2008-05-06T16:30:00.000Z

Janie Davies, Computing, Tuesday 6 May 2008 at 16:30:00

The distribution arm of EDF Energy is using mobile routing technology to monitor its substations

EDF Energy Networks (EDFEN) is monitoring the performance of 400 electricity substations in south east England using mobile routing technology. Sarian software configures and manages the substations remotely, diagnosing problems so...

Government questions the economic sense of smart meter rollout

Janie Davies — 2008-04-30T06:00:00.000Z

Janie Davies, Computing, Wednesday 30 April 2008 at 06:00:00

But energy industry welcomes the government's long-awaited stance on smart metering anyway

The government has cast doubt on the prospects for mandating the rollout of real-time networked energy meters to the UK domestic market....

Still no firm future for smart meters

Janie Davies — 2008-04-29T17:22:00.000Z

Janie Davies, Computing, Tuesday 29 April 2008 at 17:22:00

The government has reiterated its support for smart meters, but the industry is still waiting for a mandate

The government has finally responded to the consultation on the metering and billing aspects of last year's energy white paper, discussing options for rolling out real-time networked energy meters in...

Cost fears hinder smart meter rollout

Janie Davies — 2008-04-10T00:00:00.000Z

Janie Davies, Computing, Thursday 10 April 2008 at 00:00:00

The government delays its decision on the rollout of smart meters

The government has again delayed a decision on the future of smart meters, amid concerns that a nationwide rollout will cost up to four times more than energy industry estimates....

Smart meters start rolling out to businesses

Janie Davies — 2008-03-26T00:00:00.000Z

Janie Davies, Computing, Wednesday 26 March 2008 at 00:00:00

Opus Energy has signed a £3m deal to provide free smart meters to its customers

Opus Energy has become the first power company to offer customers free smart meters, through a £3m deal with supplier Bglobal....

Digital mapping helps risk assessment at energy supplier

Janie Davies — 2008-03-20T00:00:00.000Z

Janie Davies, Computing, Thursday 20 March 2008 at 00:00:00

Geographic information will improve asset management at E.ON Central Networks

E.ON Central Networks (ECN), a distribution unit of energy supplier E.ON, will have improved survey capabilities under a contract with Infoterra, a supplier of geographic information services....

Yorkshire Water puts better communications on tap

Neon Kelly — 2008-03-19T00:00:00.000Z

Neon Kelly, Computing, Wednesday 19 March 2008 at 00:00:00

Network project has connected 130 sites and will pave the way for new services

Yorkshire Water has improved communication between 130 sites using digital networking provided by ntl:Telewest. The IP virtual private network covers 6000 square miles, helping the utility company to manage 700...

Energy firms concerned about 21CN

Janie Davies — 2008-03-06T00:00:00.000Z

Janie Davies, Computing, Thursday 6 March 2008 at 00:00:00

Energy companies want assurances that transition to next-generation services won't restrict the efficiency of energy networks

Energy companies are concerned that transition to the UK’s next-generation communications infrastructure could put their command and control systems at risk....

Scottish Power takes networking to the next generation

Janie Davies — 2008-03-04T00:00:00.000Z

Janie Davies, Computing, Tuesday 4 March 2008 at 00:00:00

Energy company will connect 300 sites via IP communications in deal with supplier Thus

ScottishPower Energy Network (SPEN), the transmission and distribution unit of Scottish Power, is to connect its critical applications through a next-generation IP-based network....

Utility companies want industry reorganisation

Janie Davies — 2007-12-13T00:00:00.000Z

Janie Davies, Computing, Thursday 13 December 2007 at 00:00:00

Upgrading meters could take 20 years under the current system

Power companies are calling for a radical restructuring of the utilities industry if government goals for smart meters are to be accomplished within the next two decades....

Smart meters win minister's backing

Janie Davies — 2007-11-12T00:00:00.000Z

Janie Davies, Computing, Monday 12 November 2007 at 00:00:00

John Hutton says 10 years is too long to wait for smart energy meters to be rolled out

Smart energy meters should be brought in under an accelerated programme, according to John Hutton, the secretary of state for business, enterprise and regulatory reform....

United Utilities updates legacy IT with SOA

Janie Davies — 2007-11-05T00:00:00.000Z

Janie Davies, Computing, Monday 5 November 2007 at 00:00:00

Supplier Infosys will modernise the energy company's operations management system

United Utilities is adopting service-oriented architecture (SOA) to modernise its IT systems. The electricity and water company has chosen Indian IT services provider Infosys to help update its operations management...