“The lack of capacity, both financial and human, remains a challenge”   “I’d like to see an increased uptake of As-A-Service models as this allows utilities to leverage private capital to achieve service delivery outcomes by allowing private players to share in the risk and reward related to projects” – this is according to Melusi Maposa, Accenture’s Managing Director: Resources. Accenture is a returning platinum sponsor at the upcoming African Utility Week, taking place from 17-19 May at the CTICC in Cape Town, gathering more than 6000 power and water professionals.   Says Mr Maposa: “projects such as metering for both water and electricity, water network operations including infrastructure refurbishment (reservoirs, treatment works) all lend themselves to Private-Public-Partnership (PPP) contracting models. Although complex to execute, PPP engagements offer an incredible opportunity for utilities to jumpstart service delivery.” Lack of capacity remains a challenge Accenture’s Managing Director: Resources says the company is “very excited about the work we are doing with municipal utilities to drive better insight and efficiencies around capital project executions. We have helped drive increased expenditure, with very clear correlation to service delivery outcomes.” Mr Maposa adds: “the lack of capacity, both financial and human, remains a challenge for most of our clients. However, better leveraging of analytics and As-A-Service delivery models – where service providers execute processes on behalf of customer – offer opportunities to plug skills and funding gaps whilst aligning with the objectives of utilities and their partners”. CEO Forum According to Mr Maposa, Accenture’s feedback from their participation at last year’s African Utility Week has been “extremely positive. We have increased our level of participation and involvement with AUW and target audiences have picked up on this. In addition to being a platinum sponsor, provide speaking and conference moderators, we facilitated a very successful CEO Forum where we shared insights from our annual Digitally Enabled Grid survey. The insights gleaned from this global survey, which also included respondents from South Africa, was thought provoking and well received by the attendees.” African Utility Week An impressive list of 250 technology and service providers to the energy and water sector on the continent will showcase their solutions at the 16th edition of the annual African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa conference and exhibition. Some 6000 engineers, stakeholders and solution providers from around the globe will gather for the Cape Town event. The trade exhibition will be free when registering in advance and feature hands-on demonstrations and CPD-accredited technical workshops on the exhibition floor. The event will also feature technical site visits and the coveted industry awards gala dinner. African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa are organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK. The event forms part of a global energy event series, including European Utility Week, Australian Utility Week, Asian Utility Week and Latin American Utility Week. Other African flagship events in Spintelligent’s power portfolio are East African Power Industry Convention (EAPIC), West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC), iPAD Rwanda Power & Mining Investment Forum and iPAD Cameroon Energy & Infrastructure Forum. Dates for African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa 2016: Conference and expo: 17-19 May 2016 Awards gala dinner:  18 May 2016 Site visits: 20 May 2016 Location: CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa Websites: www.african-utility-week.com  Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfricaUtilities  Linkedin: African Power Forum Contact:Communications manager:  Annemarie Roodbol Telephone: +27 21 700 3558 Mobile: +27 82 562 7844 Email: annemarie.roodbol@spintelligent.com