David Blackman

Grid connection delays are ‘unacceptable’, minister admits

Long waits for developers to secure grid connections are “unacceptable”, energy ministers have said during DESNZ question time. Energy secretary Grant Shapps also said the introduction of a cut price social tariff for low income customers “could be very helpful”.

NIC calls for new unit to oversee planning overhaul

A new top-level, Whitehall taskforce should be established to oversee the infrastructure planning regime, a government-commissioned review has urged. The National Infrastructure Commission also calls for environmental impact assessments to be overhauled and for greater data sharing between similar projects.

Lords defy government over Ofgem net zero duty

The House of Lords has defied the government and backed calls for Ofgem to be given a statutory obligation to meet the UK's 2050 net zero emissions target. By 208 votes to 182, peers backed a Labour-tabled amendment to the government’s Energy Security Bill, which would incorporate within the energy regulator’s general duties a "specific requirement to have regard to meeting the UK’s net zero emissions target".

Overhaul of CfD auctions tabled

Government sets up Morocco interconnector team

£90m of boiler upgrade funding lost after not being spent

Long-duration energy storage demos awarded £30m

Is the latest energy plan fit for purpose?

Business tenancy turnover surge to spark more bad debts

Bad debts resulting from changes of business tenancies, some fraudulent, will increase following the scaling back of government support for non-domestic customers, Energy UK (EUK) has warned Ofgem. In its submission to the energy regulator’s recently closed call for input on the non-domestic gas and electricity market, the sector’s umbrella body raises concerns that changes of tenancy or occupier (COT) can be a "very significant cause of bad debt" for suppliers.

Offshore wind champion moots scrapping CfD auctions