Adviser reveals Truss government’s energy priorities
Published 20 September 2022
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Cost, security of supply and UK production are the three key energy policy priorities for Liz Truss’ reshaped administration, one of the new prime minister’s senior advisers has told the sector.
Alex Boyd, who was appointed special adviser for business, energy and trade after Truss’ victory in the Tory leadership campaign, held a meeting last week at No 10 Downing Street with industry bodies.
A Utility Week source who attended the meeting said the adviser identified cost, security of supply and UK production as the three important elements of policy during the discussion.
The source added that the government is “absolutely fixated” with cost for consumers.
Boyd also emphasised, according to the sources, that the government is reviewing its Energy Security Bill in order to free up Parliamentary time for the emergency legislation required to implement the business energy cost support announced by Truss just under a fortnight ago.
The source said: “The government is looking to find as much parliamentary time as they can put through whatever they need to do as an emergency measure and everything else can wait a bit.
“It was quite clear that the energy bill, which was being discussed in the Lord’s week ago, is not going to be discussed in the near future and that the bill would not be in the format that it is now.”
Boyd also told the trade bodies at the meeting that he is keen to unblock barriers, Utility Week’s source said: “The point that he made was that they are a two-year government and can’t afford delays to getting things done.”
The advisor canvassed the meeting on the measures in the bill that the industry was keen to see retained. The industry bodies pressed Boyd to continue with provisions to establish the Future Systems Operator on an independent footing and establish a village-wide hydrogen heating trial.
Energy UK and the Association for Decentralised Energy were among the industry bodies present at the meeting.
The potential trade-offs between affordability and security of supply will be discussed in detail at Utility Week Forum on 8-9 November in London. Find out more here.
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