Petrol stations slam DfT over fuel price allegations

RMI Petrol, the trade association representing petrol stations and forecourt operators, has blasted the Department for Transport for issuing “damaging comments” over the price it sells fuel at. Transport Secretary Justine Greening said retailers should pass on savings to their customers. She said: “Petrol prices go up instantly when wholesale prices rise, but when there […]

Engineers fear electricity storage is losing out

Engineers are concerned Government support for electricity storage is “scant and ill-designed”. The Institution of Mechanical Engineers says new technology could be a solution to the unpredictability of renewable energy sources like wind power which are to play a key role in the new Energy Bill. It says the UK has the potential to be at the […]

Take up expensive bills with your supplier, say EnergyUK

Following a report from uSwitch which suggested bills would start to become “unaffordable” for consumers in the next few years, the body representing power suppliers has suggested worried bill payers should get in touch with who sells them their energy to see what help is on offer. Christine McGourty, Director of Communications and Public Affairs […]

Government dirty air court case thrown out

The court of appeal has ruled that the UK’s breaches on air quality are a matter for the European Commission. The court of appeal dismissed a case yesterday brought against the Government by environmental lawyers ClientEarth. Back in December DEFRA admitted that it was breaching European Union pollution limits. The judge in charge of the case, Mr […]

Geothermal could provide 20% of UK power, says report

Deep geothermal resources in the UK could provide 9.5GW of renewable electricity, the equivalent of around nine nuclear power stations a new report claims. The study by energy consultants Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) suggests the renewable source could provide 20% of the UK’s energy needs, given proper support from Government. While Energy Minister Charles Hendry […]

Almost half of people have not heard of smart meters

Nearly half (48%) of consumers don’t know what a smart meter is. That’s according to research from Consumer Focus, which has launched an online advice guide to help people understand what the benefits are as the country prepares for a nationwide roll-out. ‘Smart meters’ are digital gas and electricity meters which allow customers to understand […]

uSwitch claim bills will be “unaffordable in three years”

Consumer group uSwitch has claimed energy bills will become unaffordable for consumers in three years’ time. It fears rising bills will force more people to go without heating and into fuel poverty. The report suggests that if trends continue as they are by 2015 59% of people will be going without adequate heating and 36% […]

Greens criticise IEA gas report

An International Energy Association (IEA) report depicting the imminent ‘golden age of gas’ has been met with a mixed reception from green groups. Speaking at its launch in London earlier, IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven said: “The technology and the know-how already exist for unconventional gas to be produced in an environmentally acceptable […]

IEA warns industry to open up over future of gas

The ‘golden age of gas’ will become a reality only if industry and authorities are transparent over the “legitimate public concerns” surrounding the environmental and social impacts of new sources. This was the message from the International Energy Association, which believes industry must be kept in line if the world is to benefit from such […]

Questions remain over Contracts for Difference

Last week’s draft energy bill has possibly left the business sector more questions than answers. The ‘Contracts for Difference’ (CfD), one of the key policies of electricity market reform, has been the most heavily targeted as business says Government is still keeping quiet over the detail. Rhian Kelly, Director for Business Environment at the CBI […]