Under new rules announced today, the Big Six energy suppliers will have to write to all of their customers once a year informing them if they are on the best type of tariff for their usage. The new rules do not however, mean that the supplier has to inform their customer if there is a cheaper deal with another supplier … Read More
‘Big six’ make small price reductions
All of the big six energy suppliers have now cut their prices, following electricity and gas price rises in the second part of 2011. All of the largest players in the energy market have now cut their standard domestic tariffs to some extent, but all of them have made reductions that amount to a fraction of the price rises they … Read More
PAC publishes report on Smart Meters
The Public Accounts Committee has published their MPs report on the preparations for the rollout of Smart Meters for all homes and businesses. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is responsible for overseeing government expenditures to ensure that they work in the public interest. The Smart Meter rollout is expected to cost £11.7 billion, and the PAC has published a set … Read More
Which? calls for halt to smart meter rollout
The consumer group Which? has today called for “an immediate halt to the smart meter roll-out” as it believes a full review of the plans are needed before the second phase starts in 2014. As we reported back in March last year, the DECC has already set out its plans for a nationwide smart meter rollout during the years 2014 … Read More
Ofgem wants ‘better protection for businesses’
In a press release on Monday, Ofgem proposed new measures designed to shake up the business energy market, and encourage energy suppliers and brokers to provide a better service.
‘Keep switching’, says Huhne at Energy summit
The UK has “relatively good electricity and gas prices”, the Energy Secretary said at the Energy Summit held on 17 October 2011. Mr Huhne said on Radio 4’s Today programme, that energy companies were “not the Salvation Army”. He added “We expect them to earn respectable returns for their shareholders but they need to be operating in a fair and … Read More
Weightman report: nuclear power is safe
The final report by Mike Weightman commissioned after the Fukushima disaster in Japan confirms “no fundamental weaknesses” in the UK’s nuclear licensing program. The report makes 38 recommendations of lessons learned from Fukushima, but stresses that is that nuclear power is safer than it has ever been. The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has said “operators should continue … Read More
Weightman to release report on nuclear power
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne is expected to use the report on the Fukushima disaster by Mike Weightman to push the UK’s new nuclear power program. The report on what can be learned from the Fukushima disaster is expected to kick-start the UK’s nuclear programme, despite criticism from Greenpeace and other environmental groups that it has been rushed through. Anti-nuclear protesters … Read More
Germany pushing for European super-grid
Law stating that Germany must outlaw nuclear power generation by 2022 is encouraging more talk of an EU-wide electricity system. After the Fukushima disaster in Japan, Germany decided to shut down its 17 nuclear power stations by 2022, closing the 7 oldest ones immediately. This has turned Germany from a net exporter of electricity, to a net importer of electricity … Read More
EDF Energy announce price rises
EDF Energy have today announced they are to increase their energy prices from 10 November EDF Energy are the last of the big six UK energy suppliers to announce their domestic price rises for this year. The company will raise its retail gas prices by 15.4% and electricity prices by 4.5% from the 10 November. EDF Energy claims it has … Read More