British businesses have rated energy supply and costs as a top risk factor to their business in a survey The survey, conducted by RWE Npower, found three hundred companies, both major energy users and smaller businesses, rated energy as a top risk concern along with sales and legislation. Only 66% of those surveyed in Npower’s Business Energy Index 2011 said … Read More
Huhne outlines electricity market reform
UK Energy Secretary Chris Huhne unveiled proposals set to bring about the biggest reforms since privatisation. The UK government announced on Tuesday that the UK’s energy infrastructure will need £110bn of investment to keep the lights on. Chris Huhne told parliament that without reform and substantial financial investment, the country will be facing blackouts.
Ofgem investigate wholesale energy prices
Energy industry regulator Ofgem is to launch an investigation into how much suppliers are paying for wholesale energy. Ofgem discovered a 27% difference in how much suppliers were paying for electricity and 15% for gas last year. Wholesale prices are the reason quoted for the majority of supplier price rises. Two weeks ago Scottish Power upped prices by up to … Read More
CCC advises government to step up carbon reduction
The Committee on Climate Change has advised the government to step up carbon reduction efforts in their latest report The advisory body said that the country’s greenhouse gas emissions are not dropping fast enough to meet targets. The CCC advised that a new range of carbon reduction tools is needed to achieve a faster rate of reduction. The Committee on … Read More
UK’s biggest solar farm up and running
The largest solar farm in the country is now in use after being connected to the national grid. The solar farm at Howbery business park in Oxfordshire caters for a quarter of the park’s energy requirements, generating 682MWh a year. There are 3000 solar panels in the array, which are expected to save 350 tonnes of CO2 at the Wallingford … Read More
Ofgem continue overhaul of energy market
Ofgem is to press on with its overhaul of retail gas and electricity markets, and announces investigation into Scottish Power promotion The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) is to launch an inquiry into a “potentially misleading” offer that was promoted at the same time as the latest price increase announcements. The industry regulator has stated it is determined … Read More
Energy secretary encourages switching supplier
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has reminded consumers that they can switch supplier if they are unhappy with price increases Huhne has urged consumers to shop around if they are hit by substantial gas and electricity price increases. The Energy Secretary made the comments to the Observer newspaper following the announcement of ScottishPower’s price increases of up to 19%
ScottishPower announce large price rises
ScottishPower have stirred up the domestic energy market by announcing large price rises The company have announced price rises as high as 19% for gas tariffs, and 10% rises for electricity. These new prices will come into effect on 1 August.
Centrica close Morecambe Bay gas field
Centrica have taken the decision to leave Britain’s largest gas field shut. The Morecambe Bay gas field in the North Sea, owned by British Gas parent company Centrica, is to remain closed. Centrica blamed the new taxes on profit gained from North Sea production as the reason for the closure.
Shale gas drilling suspended after earthquake
Test shale gas drilling in Lancashire has been suspended after fears it is linked to earthquakes A 1.5 magnitude tremor near a drill site in the north west has lead to Cuadrilla Resources suspending shale gas drilling. The tremor is the second in two months, and Cuadrilla will now wait to review data collected by the British Geological Survey (BGS) … Read More