FTSE 100 news / Companies and sectors / Utilities / 10 October 2026
Utilities: sector news on Saturday 10 October 2026
Average tone +1.8 (slightly positive) across 6 companies with relevant coverage, from 26 stories.
Company by company
| Company | Tone | Stories | What the coverage was about |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Grid | +4.5 | 12 | Coverage was mostly positive, led by the Thames tunnel drive finishing ahead of schedule, a higher analyst price target and new innovation funding. |
| Centrica | +4.2 | 5 | Coverage was mostly light, with the main positive being the chief executive and finance chief adding to their stakes in Centrica. |
| United Utilities | −6.0 | 5 | Coverage was mostly negative, led by reports on a 'black box' industrial wastewater trade earning UK water firms millions. |
| Severn Trent | +6.7 | 2 | Coverage was mainly about Severn Trent's community campaign, which gives financial support and kit grants to grassroots football teams in Coventry and Birmingham. |
| Metlen Energy & Metals | −3.0 | 1 | Coverage was a single story about the European Commission's approach to aluminium recycling industries, with Mytilineos named in the headline. |
| SSE | +4.2 | 1 | The only relevant coverage was a Kalkine Media piece asking whether networks and renewables are keeping SSE on course after its trading statement. |
Strongest stories in the sector
- +8.3 National Grid TBM Completes Thames Drive Ahead of Schedule
Thames tunnel drive completed ahead of schedule. - −8.3 Revealed: the ‘black box’ wastewater trade that rakes in millions for UK utility companies
Investigation into opaque wastewater trade profits; reputational and regulatory risk for water firms. - +7.5 Is Centrica plc (LSE:CNA) Gaining Attention As Its Chief Executive And Finance Chief Add To Their Stakes?
CEO and finance chief buying shares signals insider confidence. - +7.5 National Grid Transco National Grid (NEW) Stock 12‑Month Price Target Raised to $92.95, Implies 22% Upside
Price target raised, implying 22% upside. - +7.0 Severn Trent kicks off new campaign with financial support for Coventry grassroots teams
Community campaign funding grassroots teams; positive for reputation. - −7.0 UK Water Firms Earn £340m From 'Black Box' Industrial Wastewater Trade
Repeats report of water firms' 'black box' wastewater earnings; negative scrutiny. - +6.7 Live working moves a step closer after National Grid secures innovation funding
Secured innovation funding for live working. - +6.7 Thames tunnel job finishes early: schedule and grid capacity takeaways for engineers
Thames tunnel finished early, positive for delivery. - +6.3 Birmingham football fever as Severn Trent reveals the clubs receiving kit grants
Kit grants to Birmingham clubs; positive community goodwill. - +5.8 National Grid’s £500k Community Matters Fund is open for applications
Community fund open for applications, reputational plus. - −5.0 450 properties in Malvern left without electricity as National Grid combat power cut
Power cut affecting 450 properties, company responding. - −5.0 Prestwich road closure after sinkhole set to remain until later this month
Sinkhole road closure lasting weeks; likely linked to UU pipework, disruptive.