The energy giant is the fourth of the ‘Big Six’ energy providers to announce a price rise this winter. It follows the announcements already made in recent weeks by by Scottish & Southern (SSE) and British Gas and Npower. ScottishPower is to raise its domestic energy prices on December 6, with an average increase of 8.6%.
Nuclear strike price agreed
Government and EDF Energy finally agree rate of £92.50 per megawatt-hour. The agreed rate is more than double the going rate for wholesale electricity, meaning the energy generated from the new plant will be extremely expensive compared to other nuclear power plants. The new Hinkley nuclear reactor in Somerset will be built, and should be operational within 10 years.
British Gas and Npower announce price rises
Three of the Big Six have now announced winter price increases of between 8 and 11 per cent. Npower and British Gas have joined SSE and Co-op on the list of energy companies that have already announced price hikes this winter. Both suppliers blamed the hikes on higher prices on the global energy markets, higher costs of transmission, and increases … Read More
SSE announce winter price rise
The energy supplier’s price rise will affect 7 million domestic customers, and signals price rises for businesses too. The increase will be around 8.2%, and come into effect on November 15. In the South East, customers will see hikes as high as 9.7% while in the North and southern Scotland people will face a smaller 7% rise.
Is public opinion on shale gas changing?
Shale gas is an environmental and political hot potato. This article studies how the country’s feelings towards shale gas have evolved. It’s probably the hottest topic in energy at the moment – ‘fracking’ for shale gas. As with any new source of energy, it has drawn protests from hard left groups at exploratory drilling sites and the HQ of energy … Read More
Cameron “determined to win” shale gas debate
Fracking for shale gas will cut energy bills, create jobs, and pump money into local communities, the Prime Minister has stated. In an article published in The Telegraph on Sunday, David Cameron waded into the national debate on fracking for shale gas, saying it’s one he is “determined to win”. In it he claims that fracking is safe, and has … Read More
Centrica plans oil and shale gas exploration
The parent company of British Gas is seeking to generate more of its own energy, due to its increasing reliance on foreign imports. Centrica, owner of British Gas, has announced a new 2 year partnership with Cuadrilla Resources to extract shale gas at 7 wells across Lancashire. Fracking will take place at 6 new wells, as well as the one … Read More
Wind farms continue to get massive subsidies
Ministers increase “strike price” paid to onshore and offshore wind farms for each megawatt-hour of electricity they generate. Onshore and offshore wind farms are to receive subsidies on the energy they generate of at least £100 and £155 per megawatt-hour (MWh) respectively, with the going rate for electricity currently at around £50/MWh. The subsidy will be in place for the … Read More
Estimated shale gas reserves doubled by BGS
A new report by the British Geological Survey says there could be 1,300 trillion cubic feet of gas stored away under the North of England. Previous estimates of around 600 trillion cubic feet were revised, although only 10% of the total gas can definitely be extracted. Energy Minister Michael Fallon said shale gas was “an exciting new energy resource”. A … Read More
Has the oil market been rigged to raise prices?
BP, Shell & Statoil suspected of deliberately manipulating markets and exacerbating the recession. Three energy giants may have “colluded in reporting distorted prices to manipulate the published prices for a number of oil and biofuel products”. If these allegations are true, it could have had an impact on not just petrol. Everything is linked to the price of oil somehow … Read More