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The energy white paper fails to deliver a detailed plan for net zero
December saw the publication of the long-awaited energy white paper, which built on Boris Johnson’s 10-point energy plan. In [...]
FES-2020 costs indicate massive investment needed for net-zero
Last week, National Grid ESO published the first costings for its Future Energy Scenarios (“FES”). The key conclusions of [...]
Boris Johnson’s 10-point energy plan: a mixed bag
Despite being forced to self-isolate having come into contact with a covid-positive MP, Boris Johnson has finally unveiled his [...]
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Circling the drain: the prospect of bailouts in the energy sector
Today the Business Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, has raised the prospect of nationalising parts of the electricity industry. Of course, it isn’t couched in those terms, but the Government has announced that it will appoint a Special Administrator to run [...]
Two more suppliers fail as energy prices soar
In the year and a half from the beginning of 2020 to July 2021 UK power day-ahead prices effectively doubled, and everyone from suppliers, three of whom have closed in recent weeks, and another two today: Utility Point and [...]
Damning NAO report into the Green Homes Voucher Scheme
This week the National Audit Office (“NAO”) has published a damning report into the Government’s failed Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme. The scheme was originally announced in July 2020, as part of the UK’s “green recovery” from the pandemic, [...]
High wholesale prices spell bad news for struggling suppliers
I have been writing recently about the need for radical reform of the retail energy market, and predicted that this autumn would see more supplier failures. Today, another two energy suppliers announced their closure today: PfP Energy (formerly Places [...]
Developing smart energy markets for suppliers and consumers
Last week I was invited to speak at the Westminster Energy, Environment & Transport Forum on the subject of smart energy markets. The transcript of my speech is below: Developing smart energy markets for suppliers and consumers - [...]
Government consults on greenwashing in retail energy tariffs
The Government has finally announced a review of so-called “green tariffs” to assess whether suppliers are communicating appropriately with consumers, or whether they are engaging in “greenwashing”. According to the Government, 9 million British households are now on green [...]
Capacity auctions underline changes to the market structure
March saw the latest capacity market auctions: the T-1 auction for delivery in 2021/22 was held on the 12th and the T-4 auction for 2024/25 was concluded on 22nd. The assets leaving the auction compared with those succeeding highlight [...]
BSUoS charging reform: benefits and risks for all parties
From 1 April 2023 the way that Balancing Services Use of System (“BSUoS”) costs are recovered could change - Ofgem is proposing to exempt generators from the charges and to recover the costs solely from end consumers. This would [...]
As the price cap rises again it’s time to fix a broken market
Last week Ofgem announced another increase to the price cap on so-called default energy tariffs, which will take effect from 1 October, the start of the winter season. This comes after a previous increase to the cap last February, [...]
Taishan EPR shuts down to repair damaged fuel rods
Regular readers will know that I am no fan of EDF’s third generation nuclear technology being deployed at Hinkley Point C – the European Pressurised Water Reactor (“EPR”). The company has been trying and failing to complete its flagship [...]
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