Ofgem’s decision to reform cash-out rules following its Electricity Balancing Significant Code Review could see supply contracts with industrial and commercial customers reopened, and result in more expensive power purchase contracts (PPAs) and potential penalties for small power generators, New…
Longread
As air quality concerns grow, should we be giving diesel generation subsidy support and tax breaks?
by New Power •
Janet Wood asks: is power market support too tilted towards diesel? The big surprise of the inaugural Capacity Market (CM) auction was the large number of small gas and diesel-fuelled plants that sought – and won – contracts, mostly…
Longread
National infrastructure: will our pension funds invest? The view from PIP’s Mike Weston
by New Power •
Chancellor George Osborne said he wanted to see £20 billion invested by UK pension funds in UK infrastructure. It has not been that simple, Pensions Infrastructure Platform (PIP) chief executive Mike Weston told Janet Wood, but PIP is ready to invest. The message to energy projects is: come and talk to us
Flash update
Capacity Market 2015: eight new-build gas-fired plants and two interconnectors rejected
by New Power •
Eight large new-build gas projects failed to qualify for the upcoming Capacity Market auction, leaving Trafford (which won a contract last year) and potentially ESB’s Carrington (under constructon, and prequalified for the auction) the only large new-build gas plant…
News
Collective switch: Good Energy wins Clean Energy auction but other offers around
by New Power •
The Clean Energy Switch could see 100,000 customers move to a green energy supplier. But is it the cheapest option?
Editor's blog
To frack or not to frack?
by New Power •
Janet Wood says if we have to use fracked gas, it is better to abstract it in the UK, under our close scrutiny, than do it by stealth, over the horizon,
Perspective
It’s time to go for gas
by New Power •
Clive Moffatt, an advisor to independent generators, equipment providers and financial institutions on the implications of Electricity Market Reform, argues that we should address the shortcomings of EMR and recognise the central role of gas in delivering affordable and secure energy
Perspective
Price regulation and switching: what’s the experience?
by New Power •
Philip Lewis, chief executive of European energy customer consultancy VaasaETT, comments on the Competition and Markets Authority recommendations, based on experience of regulated tariffs elsewhere.
Longread
Will consumers benefit from CMA remedies? Citizens Advice remains uncertain
by New Power •
Rich Hall, Infrastructure policy manager – Consumer Futures, at Citizens Advice, says the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) understands the symptoms of the energy industry competition problem, but not the causes.