Many UK companies want to support renewable electricity, but are confused by a “bewildering variety of costs and schemes which made it hard to be sure of the carbon content of what they were buying”, according to a report from Smartest…
Perspective
More debate on energy industry codes: Electralink wants ‘simplified and competitive approach’
by New Power •
Elizabeth Lawlor, head of governance services at ElectraLink, sets out the company’s proposed approach to reforming code governance The UK energy market is historically complex which is mirrored within supporting industry codes. Naturally, SmartestEnergy’s opinion piece in October’s New Power,…
News
MPs: energy policy shifts have hit investor confidence and will raise consumer costs
by New Power •
MPs: energy policy shifts have hit investor confidence and will raise consumer costs
News
Reduce stamp duty for energy efficient houses, says think tank
by Annabel Andrews •
The government should encourage home buyers to purchase energy efficient homes by reducing stamp duty for homes with a high efficiency rating, according to a new Policy Exchange report published today. Lenders should also provide energy efficiency mortgages, the think…
News
Winning £2 billion benefit of storage ‘requires joint action on market frameworks’
by New Power •
Effective use of storage could reduce the costs of managing a highly variable electricity system by £2.4 billion per year by 2030, a new report has concluded. But to use storage most efficiently the interests of a wide variety of…
Flash update
Capacity Market reform promises emergency auction for 2017/18, plus action on dirty diesels and non-delivery
by New Power •
An emergency Capacity Market auction will be held in January for delivery in winter 2017/18, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) said in a consultation on changes to the CM intended to improve security of supply and bring…
Flash update
New auto-switch services launch: will they change the game for energy customers?
by New Power •
Fine ambitions on increasing customer switching run into one problem: it’s a tedious business, and one that can leave you uncertain, on switching sites, whether you really have got a better deal. Janet Wood spoke to Flipper and Swuto, both hoping to take the pressure off domestic consumers – and EnergyConnect which is hoping to get small businesses more active.
News
Northern Ireland’s renewable heat incentive closes to new applicants tonight
by Annabel Andrews •
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) confirmed this week that the Northern Ireland renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme for domestic and non-domestic installations will be suspended to new applicants from midnight tonight. Ofgem, which administers the scheme on…
News
Engie’s new focus: low-carbon, regulated businesses and ‘customer solutions’
by New Power •
Engie has announced a three-year transformation plan intended to refocus the company on low-carbon activities (which will provide 90% of pre-tax earnings by 2018), regulated activities (expected to be more than 85% of pre-tax profit by 2018) and “integrated customer…