MPs challenge Ofgem boss over standing charges on bills

The boss of Ofgem was today challenged by MPs over the use of standing charges on customers’ bills at a meeting of the House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee. Andrew Wright, Ofgem’s interim CEO, was asked what steps the regulator had taken to tackle problems with the charges, which according to Labour MP […]

Energy bosses called before MPs following price hikes

Bosses from the Big Six energy firms and other smaller suppliers have been called to give evidence to MPs about the recent price hikes. Three of the Big Six suppliers – SSE, British Gas and npower – have so far announced an increase in gas and electricity prices this winter. The Energy and Climate Change […]

DECC needs to stop treating CCS as an "option”

DECC needs to get behind Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and stop treating it as a spare option if the technology is to make a significant contribution to cutting Britain’s CO2 emissions, the Energy and Climate Change Committee was told yesterday. At a committee hearing Chris Littlecott, Senior Policy Adviser for E3G said: “DECC as […]

UK Government unable to give Green Deal’s expected outcomes

UK Ministers are unable to say what they expect to achieve through the Government’s energy efficiency schemes, a new report says. The Energy and Climate Change Committee said it was surprised that DECC couldn’t provide an answer when asked about the expected outcomes of its Green Deal scheme. The Committee said it needs to know […]

UK needs a ‘Plan B’ if new nuclear plans fail

UK Ministers need to stop “crossing their fingers” and urgently develop a “Plan B” to meet climate change targets if new nuclear power stations are not built on time. In a new report published today, the Energy and Climate Change Committee said nuclear power could play an important role as a low carbon technology to […]

Energy market must work ‘properly and quickly’

The UK energy market needs to be working properly and as quickly as possible to ensure customers see the benefits of lower prices. That’s the view of a price comparison site uSwitch which has welcomed the Energy and Climate Change Committee’s report yesterday into  Big Six practices. The Committee called for the ‘Big Six’ to […]

MPs call for greater transparency in energy market

UK MPs said the ‘Big Six’ suppliers should be required to report on how much electricity they have bought or sold in an effort to increase transparency in the energy market. In a new report, the Energy and Climate Change Committee said that is important to create competition and restore consumer trust and said it […]

Government’s Energy Bill still has ‘room to improve’

The Energy and Climate Change Committee welcomed the Government’s proposals for the Energy Bill but said there is “still room for improvement”. Energy Secretary Ed Davey announced the full details of the Bill yesterday and confirmed the decision to have a single counterparty for its Contracts for Difference (CfD) mechanism. This is expected to provide […]

MPs warn aviation and shipping should be in Climate Act

UK MPs have warned the Government that excluding aviation and shipping from the Climate Change Act would “water down” the country’s 2050 target. The Energy and Climate Change Committee has written to the Economic Secretary to the Treasury Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin and the Energy and Climate Change Minister […]

National Grid’s call for evidence for EMR

National Grid has asked for  urgent industry feedback as it helps to develop the Government’s plans for the Electricity Reform Market (EMR). Yesterday it launched a campaign seeking comments and responses to shape the EMR, along with the Contracts for Difference (CfD) and the development of strike prices for renewable technologies. The CfD is a […]