Policy

Scale of EV push will be on par with the Olympics, says minister

An Olympic-style drive across government will be required to eradicate emissions from the transport sector, the minister handpicked to oversee these efforts has admitted. In a Commons debate on decarbonising transport, it was also suggested that a mass test-drive campaign across the country may be needed to encourage ordinary motorists to try out electric vehicles.

Regional Growth and Utilities: Speaking with a Northern accent

Drop in wholesale costs sees price caps fall

Lower wholesale costs have seen a £17 reduction in both the default and pre-payment meter (PPM) caps, Ofgem has announced. The energy regulator has also provided a breakdown of how the cap is calculated.

BEIS proposes street works powers for heat networks

The government has unveiled proposals to extend the powers of heat network developers, allowing them to carry out certain development and highways works. The publication of the consultation paper has been tied with the award of £40 million for seven heat networks

Political Agenda: Prime ministerial input will be crucial for COP26

Utility Week policy correspondent, David Blackman, gives his weekly insight into what’s happening in the corridors of power.

Why the DSO transition must accelerate

Energy white paper coming ‘in a matter of weeks’

Industry faces ‘major challenge’ to hit 40GW offshore wind by 2030

Analysis by Aurora Energy Research has set out the scale of the challenge in reaching the government’s target of 40GW of offshore wind by the end of the decade, with an estimated cost of £48 billion - double the amount invested in the sector during the 2010s.

Who will get burnt in the Boris bonfire?

The new prime minister’s unassailable hold over parliament and his party is likely to pave the way for a dramatic policy overhaul. An impending reshuffle - which could spell the end of BEIS - will be followed by a flagship Budget, where the government could unleash a torrent of infrastructure spending. David Blackman examines where decarbonisation is likely to sit within these plans and how the sector may be affected.

EU pushes for new mechanisms to enable energy trade with UK

The European Commission is keen for stronger co-operation on energy issues post-Brexit, according to its draft mandate for upcoming trade negotiations with the UK.

Energy UK calls for tax-funded energy efficiency scheme

The trade body has put forward 14 steps for the government to take in the upcoming Budget and energy white paper, including using general taxation to fund a national energy efficiency programme. It also calls for low-carbon heating trials, incentives for large-scale energy storage projects and “urgent clarity” on UK carbon pricing.

Target to end coal power brought forward

The government has pledged to eliminate coal power generation from the grid by 2024 – a year earlier than previously planned. Boris Johnson has also confirmed plans to bring forward the ban on petrol and diesel cars – including hybrids – by five years, to 2035. David Blackman looks at the figures behind the plans and gauges industry reaction.

Ex-Ofwat chief to lead regulation council

Ousted COP26 president says PM doesn’t understand climate change

Claire O’Neill has hit back at the prime minister and his civil servants over what she claimed was inaction around the UN climate change summit, to be held in Glasgow this November. She said she “could not stand by and see this extraordinary opportunity fail for lack of any leadership”.

Price cap successor needs ‘considerable’ assessment

Citizens Advice has set out a number of options for a potential successor to the default price cap in energy. They include mass opt-out collective switching, the creation of a backstop supplier for disengaged customers and the implementation of a “price to beat”