Setting out a nine-point ‘Action Plan’ for the next 18 months to deliver decarbonisation, Ofgem has tacitly acknowledged that it is currently ill-equipped to deal with the challenge. The regulator pointed out that the existing ‘Social and Environmental Guidance’ from…
Author Archive for New Power
OPINION: Is this a way to decarbonise heating?
by New Power • • 1 Comment
In the February 2020 issue of New Power Report, Jessica Ralston, policy advisor at the Sustainable Energy Association, asked for feedback on SEA’s new proposals to decarbonise domestic heating “It is imperative that carbon emissions must be dramatically reduced. And it is…
National Audit Office: electricity networks were ‘overpaid’ by at least £800M
by New Power • • Comments Off
Customers have overpaid electricity network companies by £800 million since 2013 because Ofgem set the allowed rate of return too high, says the National Audit Office (NAO). NAO said Ofgem did not place enough weight on up-to-date market evidence when…
ClientEarth in High Court challenge over consent for new gas plants at Drax
by New Power • • Comments Off
Development consent given to Drax Power to install four new gas turbines at its North Yorkshire site has been challenged in the High Court by environmental law charity ClientEarth. The charity says the government’s own planning authority said the UK’s…
Ovo Energy to pay £8.9M redress for years of incorrect bills and inaccurate information
by New Power • • Comments Off
Ovo Energy whose £500 million acquisition of SSE’s customers makes it the second largest UK energy supplier, has agreed to pay £8.9 million in redress for wrongly charging customers and providing inaccurate or incomplete information to them for over five…
Utility Warehouse pays £650k in redress and refunds for overcharged Warm Home Discount customers
by New Power • • Comments Off
Utility Warehouse overcharged 3,430 Warm Home Discount customers, due to a system error, and is to provide refunds and compensation totalling £450,000. Ofgem has announced. The supplier will pay a further £200,000 into Ofgem’s voluntary redress fund, “in recognition of the seriousness of the breach and…
Gresham House takes on subsidy-free solar from Anesco
by New Power • • Comments Off
Gresham House has purchased a 12MW battery-ready solar farm from renewables developer Anesco for one of its New Energy funds. It is expecetd to begin generating solar power in March 2020 The site, known as Bumpers, straddles the Chiltern railway line…
Legislation will set new security framework for smart devices
by New Power • • Comments Off
New legislation will require consumer smart devices to meet three rigorous security requirements for the Internet of Things (IoT), the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has announced. Consumer devices such as fridges that can respond to price signals…
Western Link failings prompt Ofgem investigation
by New Power • • Comments Off
Ofgem has launched an investigation into National Grid Electricity Transmission and SP (Scottish Power) Transmission over the delivery and operation of the Western high-voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea cable, which the two companies undertook as a joint venture. The £1.3…
Renewable Exchange proves effective as wind farm operator signs two dozen PPAs
by New Power • • Comments Off
The Renewable Exchange platform saw more than 15 suppliers tender for Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for Aviva Investors’ onshore wind farms. They offered multiple ways of monetising power, subsidy and embedded benefits from the wind farms and as a result Aviva Investors has…