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Energy companies tardy in answering customer service calls

Decc consultancy spending doubles

The Department of Energy and Climate Change spent £8.3 million on consultancy from the "big four" last year, more than double the sum in any previous year. Energy minister Greg Barker revealed the increase in response to a written question from Labour MP Barry Sheermand.

Shale gas to get a 30% tax break from the Treasury

The Treasury is set to announce a tax break of up to 30 per cent for the shale gas industry.

Davey looks to hydrogen to store surplus wind power

Energy secretary Ed Davey has insisted that the coalition government is looking at not just batteries but advances in "hydrogen technology" so it can "store wind power when it's not needed on the grid".

Eon denies role in John Hayes’ exit from energy minister post

Eon has emphatically denied a claim in the Mail on Sunday that former energy minister John Hayes tried to get the company to speak out against green policy.

Nuclear power stations pass 1m hours of operation

Two nuclear power stations have together passed the one million hours of operation milestone.

Eon urges industry to back small business contract change

Eon is asking all UK energy suppliers to support a call for an industry-wide end to the process of automatically renewing fixed term contracts for small businesses.

Defra puts water mergers on ice

A flurry of mergers among water companies looked like a distant prospect this week as DEFRA indicated its reluctance to remove hurdles to M&A.

Cold hearts and tree-huggers still?

No stranger to tight deadlines, business and energy secretary Michael ­Fallon is racing to hammer out the details of the draft delivery plan for Electricity Market Reform before Parliament's summer recess begins on 18 July. He took a quick break from his packed schedule last week to reassure Utility Week's Megan Darby that plans for the capacity market are on track.

Enhanced status is an alluring prospect

While the final publication of the Water Bill has met a muted response, a potentially