Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 06/05/22.
News: Energy firms face deadline in review of direct debit hikes – BBC News Online
4 May 2022. Some energy suppliers have been given a three-week deadline to explain accusations they have increased customers’ direct debit payments by “more than is necessary”:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61309576
News: Government weighs up extending life of Hinkley Point B as energy crisis deepens – City AM
2 May 2022, Nicholas Earl. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng is open to extending the life of nuclear power plant Hinkley Point B. This is to ensure the security of the UK’s energy supplies this winter following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and ensuing volatility across global energy markets:
Link: https://www.cityam.com/government-weighs-up-extending-life-of-hinkley-point-b/
News: Prepay energy customers disconnect over price rises – BBC News Online
1 May 2022, Oliver Smith. Record numbers of prepay gas and electricity customers in the UK stopped topping up their meters after energy prices soared, Citizens Advice said. By the end of April, the charity will have seen more than 1,300 cases of people going without pay-as-you-go power – known as self-disconnection:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61270970
News: Steel boss dismisses claim that sector needs new Cumbrian coalmine – Guardian Online
1 May 2022, Michael Savage. As final decision looms on controversial pit, industry expert says there is no domestic market for its fuel:
News: UK household energy debt doubles to £1bn – Yahoo News
28 April 2022, LaToya Harding. The amount of money that UK households collectively owe to their energy suppliers has doubled in the past year to £1bn, with a quarter (23%) of consumers now in energy debt:
Link: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/uk-household-energy-debt-doubles-bills-121923371.html
News: Energy-intensive firms to get electricity bill help – BBC News Online
30 May 2022. Businesses that use high levels of energy are to get more support from the government for electricity costs:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61261709
Oral evidence: Energy pricing and the future of the energy market HC1130 – Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee
22 March 2022. Energy pricing and the future of the energy market, Martin Lewis CBE; Chair, Money Saving Expert:
Link: https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/10009/pdf/
News: Electricity market reforms risk inflated costs if investors are left behind, Cornwall Insight warns – Current News
27 April 2022, Alice Grundy. Protecting investor momentum must be key to the government’s recently announced Review of the Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA), Cornwall Insight has said:
News: Russia doubles fossil fuel revenues since invasion of Ukraine began – Guardian Online
27 April 2022, Fiona Harvey. Country receives about €62bn from exports of oil, gas and coal in two months, with Germany the biggest importer:
Article: Government urged to ban gas boilers to boost heat pump rollout – Future Net Zero
21 April 2022. Dimitris Mavrokefalidis. The Chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission has called for a clear date for a gas boiler ban:
Consultation outcome: Offshore Transmission Network Review: proposals for an enduring regime and multi-purpose interconnectors –
Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
25 April 2022. Government response on the multi-purpose interconnector (MPI) section of the consultation published:
News: Tories could lose 1.3m voters if net zero target ditched, says poll – Guardian Online
25 April 2022, Helena Horton. Report finds strong support for climate policies among Tory voters despite some MPs’ negative stance:
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/apr/25/tories-lose-voters-net-zero-target-ditched-poll
News: UK Power Networks to tender for 292MW of flexibility – Current News
25 April 2022, Molly Lempriere. UK Power Networks (UKPN) has announced a new procurement round for 292MW of flexible power across 113 different sites in London, the East and South East of England:
Link: https://www.current-news.co.uk/news/uk-power-networks-to-tender-for-292mw-of-flexibility
News: Significantly higher than average GB power prices predicted to remain out to 2030 – Current News
22 April 2022, Alice Grundy. Energy prices in Great Britain are to remain over £100/MWh annually, according to new research from Cornwall Insight:
Commons Short Debate: Tackling Climate Change – They Work For You
20 April 2022. Steve Brine MP Conservative to Alok Sharma Minister without Portfolio, COP26 President (Cabinet Office). Text of short debate in the Commons on Tackling Climate Change:
Link: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2022-04-20c.148.6&s=children#g149.0