NatWest boss to steer government plans to cut UK energy consumption
The Government has charged a new taskforce, chaired by the boss of NatWest, with working out how to significantly cut UK energy consumption over the next seven years.
Grid & Retail
Tories accused of north Scotland energy subsidy review ‘whitewash’
The Westminster government is facing fresh demands to overhaul an electricity subsidy for northern Scotland after its latest review was branded an “insult” and a “whitewash”.
British Gas under pressure to outline compensation for ‘mistreated’ customers
British Gas is under pressure to explain how it will compensate "vulnerable" customers who faced debt collectors forcibly installing prepayment meters in their homes.
Shell plans strategic review of energy supply business which employs 2,000 in UK
Oil giant Shell has raised questions about the future of its energy supply business which employs thousands of people in the UK as companies continue to struggle in a tough market.
Cold snap forces UK to fire up three coal plants
Three UK coal plants have been ordered to begin warming up in case they are needed for the country's energy supply as the cold snap bites.
UK needs £5.8bn boost for energy efficiency to cut soaring bills – report
The average home could save £500 a year on bills under the new price cap from April with good insulation and heat pumps, a report has said.
EU’s power market overhaul talks to focus on shielding consumers
European Union government officials will discuss key elements of a planned overhaul of the bloc’s power market this week, setting the scene for difficult negotiations on how to shield the economy from an energy crisis.
Drax fined £6.1m for charging extreme energy prices
UK power firm Drax Group agreed to pay a £6.1 million ($7.5 million) fine for breaching its license, after charging the grid operator excessive prices to reduce its generation.
Gas plunge means cash for Sunak, but no relief yet for consumers
UK government subsidies for household energy bills are expected to plunge to a sliver of their current levels with a slump in wholesale prices.
Billionaire says South African grid too weak for green energy
South Africa needs to upgrade its coal-fired power plants rather than focus on renewable energy, according to a sanctioned Russian billionaire who made his fortune in part from generating electricity using the fuel.
Energy suppliers exposed to nearly £2bn debt as households struggle with bills
Energy suppliers may be exposed to around £1.9 billion in debt, much of which could be unrecoverable, as households struggle to pay soaring energy bills.
Energy-saving efforts ‘critical gap’ in UK’s response to soaring bills – report
Efforts to help homes save energy - including information campaigns - have been a "critical gap" in the Government's response to soaring bills, a report has warned.
National Grid puts coal power on standby to meet UK cold snap
Grid manager National Grid ESO has put two coal-fired power plants on standby in the event that energy supplies are disrupted by a wave of cold weather gripping the UK.
Tax, energy policy must make electricity cheaper than gas: CCC boss
The head of the Climate Change Committee (CCC) says government policy must focus on efficiency and ensure electricity is cheaper than gas in a bid to “transform the economics of low-carbon heat”.
Energy suppliers stall Bulb sale again with fresh UK court bid
The UK’s sale of Bulb Energy to Octopus Energy faces further delays as rivals plan to challenge the UK government’s decision in court, according to lawyers for the bust supplier’s administrators.
‘Massive milestone’ as first 100km of Shetland Link now complete
The first 100km of a new subsea cable linking Shetland with the UK’s mainland grid has been successfully installed following a four-month campaign.
North Sea power cable repays its carbon cost in just six months
National Grid says its North Sea Link interconnector to Norway has boosted UK energy security and paid for its own carbon costs after just six months in operation.
Nicola Sturgeon to chair second energy summit in two months
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will chair the second summit with energy industry leaders in less than two months on Thursday.
UK opens £40 Billion emergency programme for strained energy firms
The UK is opening applications for as much as £40 billion of funding to energy traders to stave off a worsening liquidity crisis.
Sir Keir Starmer pledges publicly-owned energy company
A Labour government will create a publicly-owned energy company within its first year in office, Sir Keir Starmer has announced.
UK Government steps in to discount energy prices for businesses
The UK government has set out plans to cover half the expected rise in wholesale energy prices in a bid to soften the impact on businesses and non-domestic energy users.
Nearly one in four ‘won’t turn on heating this winter’ as energy bills soar
Nearly one in four adults plan never to turn their heating on this winter, polling suggests, as average bills are set to rocket while the temperature drops.
Centrica to donate 10% of British Gas profits to help at-risk customers
Energy group Centrica said it will donate 10% of the profits made by its British Gas retail arm to vulnerable customers, though only a fraction of bill payers are likely to benefit.
UK bills will hit nearly £3,600 from October, experts say in final prediction
Families face a grim winter as experts predict the cap on energy bills will hit close to £3,600 per year from October - before rising again next year.
First Minister plans “urgent summit” with energy cos and consumers
Nicola Sturgeon is to convene a summit between energy supply companies and consumer groups later in August to discuss what support can be offered to those struggling to pay soaring bills.