David Blackman

Government downgrading power market break-up plan

Government officials have indicated that proposals to localise electricity pricing are being downgraded in the wider reform of the power market, Utility Week has learned. It is one of a number of more “radical options” on Local Marginal Pricing (LMP) which has been given a lower priority.

£900 annual bill discounts mooted for poorer households

A £900 annual discount is one of two main options for a long-term regime to protect low income households from spiralling energy costs, a major new report is due to conclude. The other option due to be outlined in the report is a discount on unit rates.

‘Madness’ to delay nuclear decisions

Leaving big decisions about the future of the UK’s nuclear programme until after the next election would be “disastrous” and "madness”, the government’s chief nuclear adviser has warned. He added that the industry in the UK and abroad would soon lose faith in the government’s commitment to nuclear power.

SSEN took just 52 seconds to answer Storm Otto calls

SSEN customers affected by Storm Otto faced average waits of less than a minute to have their calls answered thanks to the company’s mobilisation of hundreds of additional call-takers. It is a marked improvement following complaints made during 2021's Storm Arwen.

Hydrogen ‘mixed messages’ undermine boiler scheme

Government "mixed messaging" and "misinformation" about hydrogen’s future role in home heating is unhelpful because the fuel is "not a serious option in the short to medium-term", peers have warned. A Lords committee concludes that the uptake for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme has been undermined by government messaging on hydrogen.

‘Archaic’ Treasury rules threaten heat pump rollout

Solar target would swallow less land than UK’s airports

Meeting the government’s target for a fivefold increase in solar generation by 2035 would require less new land than that currently covered by the UK’s airports, according to backers of solar power. Solar Energy UK has presented figures MPs in a bid to counter concerns that valuable agricultural land will be swallowed up in order to meet increased solar generation.

Unspent boiler upgrade money will be lost, minister admits

The energy minister has admitted that underspends on the £150 million budget this year for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) will be lost and cannot be carried over. The latest figures from Ofgem show the total value of BUS vouchers issued by the end of January was just under £50 million - with only two months remaining for the first phase of the initiative. 

Capacity Market secures record year-ahead power

‘Concerning’ lack of Londoners redeeming old-style PPM discounts