Half of energy providers dissatisfied with policy environment

CBI survey finds no provider satisfied and just 36 per cent “partially satisfied”

Almost half of energy providers are dissatisfied with the government’s current policy environment, according to a new survey.

Published today (25 October), the CBI’s annual Infrastructure Survey shows 49 per cent of energy providers are dissatisfied with the delivery and government policy environment.

None of the energy providers said they were satisfied and more than a third (36 per cent) said they were “partially satisfied”.

All of the energy providers surveyed said the government needs to set out a plan to provide a clear and long-term framework for energy policy.

While the survey also found the top Brexit energy priorities to be access to the internal energy market (86 per cent), regulatory equivalence (76 per cent) and access to funding, such as the European Investment Bank (75 per cent).

The CBI’s director-general Carolyn Fairbairn said it was “crunch time” for the UK’s infrastructure.

“Businesses have been unambiguous about what needs to happen, from delivering on the current road and rail pipelines to putting in place an urgent long-term energy plan and making housing a top priority,” added Fairbairn.

The annual survey records business leaders views on a wide variety of subjects.

Overall, 89 per cent of business leaders said supporting investment in energy efficiency was “important” or “critical”, but only 72 per cent of respondents said the same about minimizing energy costs.

And nearly two thirds (58 per cent) of firms are not confident that energy infrastructure will improve over the course of this Parliament.

“The survey underlines many of the concerns we have been voicing on behalf of the sector and its investors,” said Energy UK chief executive, Lawrence Slade.

“Certainty and clarity to enable investment through the next decade, as well as around future energy policy and arrangements post-Brexit are all essential in order to continue the transition to a low carbon economy,” added Slade.

“The energy sector was responsible for £1 in every £16 invested in the UK last year.”