Policy

Yorkshire proposes regulatory revolution

Yorkshire Water has published ideas for investment and regulatory reform to allow the sector to be more flexible in its PR24 business plans and rise to the challenges of climate change and population growth. Utility Week discusses the company's proposal with its director of corporate affairs, Richard Emmott.

Budget offers limited support for net zero

Rishi Sunak has allocated around £100 million of new cash for testbed energy projects in a Budget that has otherwise been branded a “missed opportunity” to take forward the Prime Minister’s green recovery plan.

Critchlow departs BEIS

The director general (DG) for energy transformation and clean growth at the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has stepped down, with his role split into two, one of which will be based in Manchester, Utility Week has learnt.

Energy retail will not be covered by National Security Bill

Energy suppliers have been excluded from a new government requirement for takeovers of UK companies to be subject to national security vetting.

National Grid to appeal cost of equity for RIIO2

Future home energy market should learn lessons from the smart rollout

Weekend press round-up: Energy companies set for price battle

In our latest review of sector coverage across the national newspapers, there is continued speculation of appeals to Ofgem’s RIIO2 final determinations by gas and transmission companies. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund is reported to be considering selling its stake in Thames Water. There is also coverage of government plans to force energy retailers to switch customers on to lower tariffs.

‘We can’t afford another wasted decade on energy efficiency’

BEIS urged to acknowledge ‘astounding’ public interest in GHG

A broad-based industry coalition has rejected government suggestions that take-up of the Green Homes Grant (GHG) has been held back by lack of appetite among consumers wary about having work done in their properties during the pandemic.

Green Homes Grant: A tale of two opportunities

Eon UK chief executive Michael Lewis outlines his thoughts on the progress of the Green Homes Grant scheme. Lewis believes more funding for the scheme's Local Authority Delivery (LAD) element could help with delivering further demand. Elsewhere Lewis discusses Eon's own response to the scheme, revealing that the company is creating more jobs to manage the thousands of LAD projects it has secured.

Building new gas turbines risks stranding £9bn of assets

Carbon tax ‘must protect low-income households’

Almost 70 per cent of people are in support of a carbon tax that protects lower income households from price increases, research from the Zero Carbon Campaign has found. Alongside the results of an Opinium survey of 2,000 UK adults, the campaign is launching a petition calling on the government to introduce charges on carbon emissions.

Is it fair to shift policy costs from electricity to gas?

‘Scotland needs a Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero’

‘Volatility and unpredictability’ of transmission charges inflating renewable costs