Featured Posts
Time to accept that wind farm costs are not falling
There has been a consistent narrative that the cost of building new wind farms is falling, with falling subsidy [...]
Windfall tax harms oil and gas production and must be cut
In May last year, the UK Government introduced a windfall tax on the profits of oil and gas companies [...]
Why Norway’s views on energy security should ring alarm bells across Europe
Norway's energy security would appear to be a done deal, yet the past couple of years have been very [...]
Addressing the high real cost of renewable generation
Over the past few months we have been inundated with claims from interested parties that more renewables are the [...]
Recent Posts
The role of third-party intermediaries in business energy procurement
Third party intermediaries or energy brokers are an important source of information for companies in their energy procurement and an important sales channel for suppliers; however the market is un-regulated, lacks transparency, and may be deterring customers at a [...]
The Targeted Charging Review will not kill flexibility in the electricity market
The consultation into Ofgem’s minded-to decision in its Targeted Charging Review into residual network charging and embedded benefits closed this week with strong objections being made by renewable and distributed energy bodies who see the proposals as damaging the [...]
Significant network charging and network access reforms ahead – part II
Ofgem is exploring major changes to electricity network charging and access arrangements that will affect all users of the system from large businesses to households, from large transmission-connected to generation to behind-the-meter storage operators. In this second post on network [...]
Significant network charging and network access reforms ahead – part I
Electricity network charging is facing its most significant reforms since the creation of the current NETA/BETTA system. Ofgem believes that current charging methodology creates distortions in the market and incentivises undesirable behaviours. This is because the entire electricity network [...]
As another project hits the rocks, what’s next for new nuclear in GB?
Horizon Nuclear Power announced today that it will suspend its UK development programme for new nuclear power stations, following a decision taken by its parent company Hitachi. Horizon is developing the Wylfa Newydd nuclear plant on Anglesey in North [...]
What next for energy markets in 2019?
It’s always interesting at this time of year to look back over the past year and ahead to what might be expected in the year to come. This time last year, I expected the retail price cap to be big [...]
All spruced up – the history of Christmas lights
According to The Week, the US uses an average of 6.63 billion kWh of electricity each year on Christmas lights - more than the entire annual consumption of El Salvador (5.35 billion kWh) and Ethiopia (5.30 billion kWh), and [...]
Ofgem publishes next steps in network charging reform
Last week Ofgem published its “minded to” decision on electricity network charging reform as part of its Targeted Charging Review (“TCR”) into the way in which residual transmission charges are recovered from consumers, and on certain “embedded benefits”: Charges [...]
National Audit Office report highly critical of smart meters programme
On Friday, the National Audit Office (“NAO”) published its latest evaluation of the UK’s smart meters programme and concluded: “The facts are that the programme is late, the costs are escalating, and in 2017 the cost of installing smart [...]
Ofgem to tighten rules for challenger suppliers and investigates RO defaults
Today Ofgem has announced it is taking action against a number of challenger suppliers that have failed to make scheduled payments under the Renewables Obligation scheme. Suppliers had until 31 October to pay outstanding sums into the late payment [...]
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