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| Welcome to your Stakeholder Update. | |  | Dear stakeholders,
February has been a busy month with the stakeholder engagement team running a number of our stakeholder advisory panels, including an in person Economic Growth advisory panel held at the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. Our stakeholder advisory panels are an integral part of our Stakeholder Engagement Strategy. The panels are made up of key stakeholder organisations and individuals that provide insights into our stakeholders’ priorities and also influence and shape our business decisions. You can meet the DSO stakeholder panel below and find out more about all of our stakeholder advisory panels here.
Time is running out to apply for our 2024 Partnership Fund. The £1.4m fund targets 250,000 people who could be getting free support. Find out if your organisation could benefit. Our Take Charge project launches its 'shape your energy future' advice service, providing information and advice on the low carbon transition.
We're seeking your feedback on our Smart Optimisation Outputs (SOO) implementation. This initiative aims to improve collaboration, transparency, and data use in the electricity sector. Find out more below including details of the survey and an online event.
This month Electricity North West has submitted proposals to Ofgem to fund seven new programmes to enhance network reliability when adverse weather hits some of the most remote areas across our region. Our £35m submission, following the Storm Arwen recommendations was developed and supported by key stakeholders.
Additionally, we have recently announced that we have successfully enabled an additional 2.4GW of network capacity, providing more opportunity for connections in the region.
Finally, thank you to everyone who took part in our recent stakeholder satisfaction survey. The findings and insights of the survey will now be reviewed formulated and shared with stakeholders in due course. Watch this space.
You'll find more information on these and other stories below.
In this month's newsletter...
Best wishes
The Stakeholder Engagement Team | | | | Time’s running out to apply for our 2024 Partnership Fund | |  | The deadline for entering this year's Partnership fund is 17:00, Friday 15th March. The fund supports members of our community who could benefit from Extra Care in the event of a power cut.
Grants are available for groups that are supporting communities (either geographical or needs based communities) in areas served by Electricity North West.
Check out this short video from our Partnerships & Customer Inclusion Manager, Karen Hunter.
Click HERE to find full details and to apply.
| | |  | | Participate in the Smart Optimisation Outputs Consultation! | | Join our Smart Optimisation Outputs (SOO) consultation on collaboration & data sharing for a reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy system.
The SOO focuses on collaboration, transparency, and data utilisation. Through this consultation, we're interested in your insights on two key areas:
Collaboration: We want to hear your thoughts on how we can strengthen partnerships and enhance stakeholder engagement.
Data Sharing: We're committed to providing clear and accessible data about our network and tools. Your feedback will help us ensure that this data is useful and informative for all stakeholders.
Click HERE to share your thoughts online.
Join our online event taking place on Tuesday 19th March at 11:00am.
Register HERE. | | | | Take Charge – Shape your energy future | |  | This month see’s the launch of our Low Carbon Transition advise/support service as part of the Take Charge project.
We are really proud of the services we provide for our customers and following the launch of our successful Take Charge (fuel poverty project) we have developed a second project Take Charge – Shape your energy future which will offer expert advice to help customers make informed low carbon decisions.
Take Charge – Shape your energy future is an expert advice service delivered by Electricity North West staff providing information and advice to help domestic customers make informed decisions about any or all of the following:
- Smart Meters
- Electric Vehicles
- Solar Panels
- Led Lighting
We are asking our North West partners to promote and amplify the campaign with their members/within their communities to help reach as wide an audience as possible.
Get in touch with lowcarbonadvice@enwl.co.uk for more information or for literature to help your organisation spread the word of this fabulous project with the potential to make a significant difference to many households across the North West. | | |  | | Electricity North West submits proposals to transform power network resilience | | Groundbreaking proposals which would transform the way Electricity North West responds to storms have been submitted to energy regulator Ofgem.
Electricity North West is seeking £35m to fund seven separate programmes which will enhance network reliability when adverse weather hits in some of the most remote areas across our region.
Proposals have been submitted to Ofgem’s business plan reopener which was launched following Storm Arwen in 2021 which hit just as business plans were being submitted.
The programmes, if approved, would see Electricity North West install more automation on the low voltage power network, improving visibility of issues and restoration times. Targeted sections of the overhead network would be moved underground whilst more interconnectors linking key parts of its network would be installed to improve resilience.
MPs Tim Farron and Neil Hudson have supported Electricity North West’s submission as have Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council.
Read more HERE. | | | | Electricity North West enables more than 2GW of additional network capacity | |  | Electricity North West has announced that it has successfully enabled an additional 2.4GW of network capacity, providing more opportunity for connections in the region.
Despite being the smallest of the distribution network operators, Electricity North West, which serves 2.4m customers from Cheshire to Cumbria, has been able to provide the extra capacity to continue meeting demand for new connections.
Electricity North West is working with Energy Networks Association alongside other distribution network operators, National Grid Transmission, National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) and Ofgem to find solutions to the increasing demand for generation connections.
Electricity North West has agreed new technical limits with the ESO for five of its grid supply points (GSPs) allowing earlier non-firm network access to customers ahead of their current consented transmission connection date.
Read more HERE. | | |  | | Flexibility Service year in review | | Our Flexibility Services 'The Year in Review: 2023' report is now available to view on our website!
This report details our key developments throughout this past year to support potential providers looking to participate in this fast-growing market. Covering a range of topics including data, digitalisation, engagement, procurement and industry collaboration, this year's report outlines our contribution to building a smart and flexible energy system that can deliver significant benefits for consumers, the system, and the wider economy whilst lowering carbon emissions.
Read the full report here: Flexible Services Document Library (enwl.co.uk) | | | | Meet the DSO Stakeholder Panel | The Electricity North West DSO Stakeholder Panel is a vital platform for open and transparent communication, bringing together diverse voices and expertise to guide our journey towards regional decarbonisation.
Our esteemed panel members represent a wide range of sectors and backgrounds, each contributing valuable insights and knowledge to our collaborative efforts. They bring expertise in areas like:
- Infrastructure development and strategic planning
- Sustainable development and environmental resilience
- Energy management and renewable energy technologies
- Policy development and stakeholder engagement
Through their participation, the panel provides invaluable guidance on our DSO initiatives, ensuring all perspectives are considered and decisions are informed by diverse expertise.
To learn more about the individual members of the DSO Stakeholder Panel and their specific areas of expertise, visit DSO stakeholder panel (enwl.co.uk). You'll gain a deeper understanding of the value they bring to our shared goal of a sustainable future. | | | Electricity North West participates in signing of agreement to accelerate the net zero transition | |  | On the 15th January 2024 Electricity North West's Director of Strategy and Growth Ben Grunfeld and Innovation Strategy & Commercial Manager, Neil McClymont, participated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between GMCA, Panasonic, Electricity North West, Carlton Power and SSE to explore the feasibility of deploying state of the art hydrogen fuel cells across the GMCA NHS estate.
The hydrogen fuel cells will be integrated into a renewable energy system of batteries and solar generation with Manchester Metropolitan University advising through their Fuel Cell Innovation Centre.
Strategy and Growth Director at Electricity North West, Ben Grunfeld, said: “As the region’s electricity network operator, we’ve provided expert advice and support as a partner with Greater Manchester Combined Authority for many years and are fully aligned with the region’s vision for net zero.
“Our world-class innovation and engineering expertise fits perfectly with the ambition of the region as together we lead the way internationally for a cleaner, greener future. This project is just an example of things to come as we leverage our global relationships for the good of the North West.”
Hosting the signing of the MoU on behalf of GMCA was Mayor Andy Burnham along with senior representatives of each of the associated companies.
Read the full article HERE. | | |  | | W&F Green Enterprise Hub networking event: Inspiring Good Business, an Evening with Mark Shayler | | This event hosted by Future Fixers CIC, inspiring organisations on their journey to a low carbon future. Bringing hope, motivation and a great opportunity to make good connections.
In his entertaining and thought-provoking style, Mark Shayler will reveal why there is no contradiction between doing what is right for the planet and doing what is right for your business. He will leave you feeling excited and hopeful about doing better business for the benefit of people and planet.
Thursday 7th of March at 6pm in Kendal Town Hall
Click HERE for full details and to book.
Support in other regions...
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