New spotlight on media and digital at African Utility Week Awards

© Petr Malinak – 123RF.com

The awards gala dinner forms part of the African Utility Week conference and expo taking place at the CTICC in Cape Town from 15-17 May and celebrates pioneering utilities, projects and people in the energy and water industry on the continent during 2017/2018.

“The media plays a vital role in the energy and water industries on the continent,” says African Utility Week event director Evan Schiff, “not only by its investigative work which exposes the sectors’ challenges and failings, holding stakeholders accountable but also by celebrating the successes and advancements. We invite all journalists who specialise in reporting on energy or water affairs to either nominate themselves or for news and industry organisations to put forward their top choice for the journalist that has covered the sector in an innovative yet objective manner. The category is open to media across the continent.”

Another exciting new category in the African Utility Week Industry Awards is the Digital Utility Award. “The African utility of the future is likely to be a fully digital system,” says Evan Schiff, “entrants for this award are utilities and solution providers who are leading the disruption in the market, maximising utility profitability and adapting business models in the evolving digital environment.”

The deadline for entries is 2 March 2018. More information and entry forms can be found on the event website: http://www.african-utility-week.com/aboutawards

The complete list of 2018 award categories:

Individual Awards:

• Lifetime Achievement Award - The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual for prolonged and consistent achievements who has made a significant contribution to the development and future of the energy or water industries during his or her entire career rather than or in addition to a single contribution.

  The nominee can be from a utility, public or private company and should be someone who has helped to achieve strategic advancement of the sectors by proactively sharing knowledge, encouraging the adoption of new technologies or establishing exemplary financial governance practices. This individual is well recognised across the globe for their influence and insight into the energy or water sectors in Africa.

• Outstanding Contribution Award: Power - This award celebrates the accomplishments of an individual in a senior position from a utility, public or private company who has displayed passion and commitment to the power industry, while also demonstrating leadership, vision and success.

• Outstanding Contribution Award: Water - This award celebrates the accomplishments of an individual in a senior position from a utility, public or private company who has displayed passion and commitment to the water industry while also demonstrating leadership, vision and success.

• Outstanding Contribution Award: Young Leader - This award recognises a person under the age of 35 from a public or private company who has made an outstanding contribution to the energy or water sectors. This young professional has had commendable career achievements to date and is already playing a leading role in their sector.

• Energy/Water Reporter of the Year – new category - This award recognises a professional journalist who produced outstanding work in 2017/18 for the public, either independently or as an employee of an editorially independent news entity through their reporting on the power or water sectors in Africa.

Organisational / Project Awards:

• Power Utility of the Year - This award recognises a power utility in Africa that has excelled in any one or more of the following fields: Service delivery, project roll-out, technology roll-out, revenue protection measures, loss reduction, grid integration and new energy sources, including company contribution to sector growth, demonstrated expenditure reduction, increased capacity to deliver services and revenue collection, completion of infrastructure development or sustainable maintenance projects.

• Water Utility of the Year - This award recognises a water utility in Africa that excels in any one or more of the following: Service delivery, project roll-out, technology roll-out, revenue protection measures, loss reduction, water quality and sanitation solutions, including company contribution to sector growth, demonstrated expenditure reduction, increased capacity to deliver services and revenue collection, completion of infrastructure development or sustainable maintenance projects.

• Renewable Energy Project (10MW +) - This award is for a project completed by an African utility, off-grid producer, IPP, government or investor between March 2017 and February 2018.

• Small-Scale Sustainable Energy Project (under 5MW) - This award is for a sustainable energy project providing electricity for either a commercial or rural electrification setting that was connected between March 2017 and February 2018.

• Innovative Technology of the Year - This award will acknowledge a business that has achieved commercial success from advanced technology, research or developing products, services, or solutions relevant to the energy or water sectors.

• Deal of the Year - This category will recognise an outstanding energy deal which reached financial closure between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017.

• The Digital Utility Award – new category - The winner captures the full range of digital opportunities by enhancing connectivity, decision making, automation, and innovation for consumers, customers, and employees.

African Utility Week details:

Conference and expo: 15-17 May 2018
Awards gala dinner: 16 May 2018
Site visits: 18 May 2018
Location: CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa

For more information, visit: http://www.african-utility-week.com or www.african-real-estate-summit.com, or follow @AfricaUtilities on Twitter #AUW2018.