What does the catastrophic record-magnitude earthquake in Japan mean to the worldwide energy industry? With the disastrous events in Japan following the record magnitude earthquake, the country has experienced some problems with one of its nuclear power stations in Fukushima. Nuclear reactors are meant to be built to withstand seismic activity, but the plant is still experiencing some significant difficulties, … Read More
Energy Secretary on UK oil dependency
Oil price rises due to middle east conflict, UK energy secretary says UK needs to become more energy independent. UK Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has called for the UK to speed up a move away from foreign oil vulnerable to factors such as civil unrest. The recent turmoil throughout the Middle East has sent the price of oil up dramatically, … Read More
British Gas profits up 24 percent
Parent company Centrica has announced British Gas profits have risen by 24% to a record £742m Centrica’s operating profit rose 29% to £2.3bn, whilst Britain’s largest energy supplier made £742m last year. In 2010, British Gas added 267,000 customers to a grand total of 16m accounts.
Centrica in £2billion Qatar gas deal
Parent company of British Gas has landed a £2billion liquefied natural gas deal with Qatargas. Centrica have signed a new 3 year deal with Qatargas for the supply of 2.4 million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas (LNG), equivalent to 10% of annual UK domestic demand. Centrica have displayed some strategic ability as the deal has been struck at … Read More
E.ON raises domestic prices
German owned supplier E.ON UK has raised its domestic energy tariffs. The new price tariffs are expected to affect around 4 million people, and will come into effect from 4 February. RWE E.ON announced that its domestic customers will see a 9% increase in electricity prices, and a 3% rise in gas prices.
BP looking at North Sea asset sale
British Petroleum are thought to be looking at the sale of North Sea assets worth £633 million ($1 billion). The sale is thought to be being considered to help the company ease the financial burdens caused by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The spill, a saga which started in mid April of this year, has cost BP billions of … Read More
Big six facing Ofgem review
Energy industry regulator Ofgem is to launch an enquiry sparked by suppliers’ rising profit margins The big six UK energy suppliers could be faced with the prospect of multi-million pound fines if they are found guilty of misconduct by the office of gas and electricity markets (Ofgem). The enquiry takes into account recent energy price rises by the big six … Read More
Further winter price changes from big six
British Gas and ScottishPower up prices, while EDF commit to freezing at current rates this winter. In October, when SSE announced a 9.4% price rise, it was expected that other suppliers would follow suit. British Gas has announced a rise of 7% for domestic electricity and gas tariffs, while ScottishPower have just increased an average increase of 8.9% for electricity … Read More
EDF’s UK Distribution network taken over
A Hong Kong consortium has announced the takeover of EDF’s UK distribution network for £5.7 billion The completion of the purchase was announced on 30 October. The Hong Kong consortium is comprised of Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings (CKI) and Hongkong Electric Holdings, and is fronted by Hong Kong’s richest man, Li Ka-shing. Both CKI and HK Electric hold a 40% … Read More
Gas prices to rise this winter
Scottish and Southern Energy has announced a 9.4% increase in household gas prices. The second largest supplier in the UK, SSE has cited a 25% increase in wholesale gas prices as the reason for the increase. SSE’s announcement comes just a month before the increase in VAT to 20%, with its new higher prices to come in to effect on … Read More