Policy

CCC stands out in climate policy blitz

Covid pushes 600,000 more energy customers into debt

There has been a 40 per cent increase in the number of people behind on their energy bills, with 600,000 more currently in debt to their supplier than February. Citizens Advice found that, as of September, 2.1 million energy customers were in arrears, with the average amount owed at £760 for electricity and £605 for gas. A quarter of all energy customers worry they will not be able to pay this winter.

Auto-switching proposals could lead to ‘unintended consequences’

Proposals to reform roll-over tariff arrangements could have the unintended consequence of reducing engagement in the energy sector, a fuel poverty expert has warned. The Energy White Paper proposes customers who do not opt-out could be automatically switched to a new, cheaper contract instead of being rolled over onto a default tariff when their deal ends.

White paper outlines UK ETS plans

Poll shows public find GHG ‘difficult’

Three quarters of people who tried to access the Green Homes Grant (GHG) have found it difficult to find a registered contractor, according to a new survey.

Weekend press round-up: White paper to propose automatic switching plan

In our latest review of sector coverage across the national newspapers, key policies from the Energy White Paper – predicted to be published today – are assessed. These include plans to automatically switch energy customers to a cheaper tariff at the end of their contract and progress on the Sizewell C project.

BEIS eyes ‘pot within a pot’ for marine energy

Kwasi Kwarteng has revealed that he is “very sympathetic” to giving wave and tidal energy its own “baby pot” within the Contracts for Difference auction process. However, the energy minister acknowledged that there is an issue, particularly within the Treasury, about the higher upfront costs of supporting marine technology.

Councils call for devolution of net-zero powers

CCC: Emissions cut of 78% needed by 2035

BEIS director of clean growth replaced

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)’s director of clean growth is leaving to take a new role working with Tony Blair. Utility Week understands a replacement has been identified.

Local electricity pricing ‘would cut £2.1bn a year from system costs’

Wholesale electricity prices should be set locally instead of nationally, an influential right-of-centre thinktank has urged. The Policy Exchange has also called for reforms of both the Contracts for Difference and Capacity Market regimes.

‘Decarbonisation will be achieved at the edge of the grid’

Hundreds of thousands of jobs could be created - many in poorer areas that need them most - by taking a decentralised approach to energy investment, Stephen Fitzpatrick has said. The Ovo Group founder wants the government to shift its decarbonisation focus away from large-scale infrastructure and instead encourage private capital towards energy efficiency and decarbonised distributed infrastructure.

Don’t expect white paper to grab the headlines

With publication of the Energy White Paper still expected this month, Josh Buckland – who wrote an early draft of it – gives his view on what to expect.

Minute-by-minute flexibility

Conor Maher-McWilliams, head of flexibility at Ovo’s smart technology arm Kaluza, discusses the company’s direct-to-car smart charging trial with Bosch, why some networks are easier to deal with than others, and how it is using artificial intelligence and machine learning to better understand flexibility in heating.  

UK bolsters 2030 climate target