Regulator Ofgem has announced it is ‘minded to’ reduce the earnings embedded plant can harness from so-called embedded benefits. Janet Wood sets out the background to its document What are embedded benefits? Embedded generation charging is complex, such plant…
Editor’s blog
Time to leave energy ‘evolution’ behind and lead the revolution
by New Power • • Comments Off
I’ve heard government and industry talk about ‘evolution, not revolution’ so often in the energy and electricity industries. It’s time to admit it is the other way around. I think the ‘evolution’ idea is intended to make sure investors are…
Lesser fears about Chinese energy ownership in the UK
by New Power • • Comments Off
No doubt there are some good reasons to worry about ‘the Chinese’ part-owning Hinkley Point C, or National Grid Gas. In the interest of speeding the discussion along, here are some I have heard that I would tend to discount:…
‘Sticky’ customer databases, white label products, and customer switching: key data questions
by New Power • • Comments Off
Once again customers are being urged to switch energy supplier to take advantage of the cheapest deals. It’s good advice. Switching numbers are increasing as so-called ‘white label’ brands enter the market. Some are apparently supplied by familiar names like…
Is it Brexit for Hinkley Point C?
by New Power • • 1 Comment
This blog was written for Nuclear Engineering International in early July. I thought delays would come from the French side … The UK has voted to leave the European Union. Where does that leave the country’s flagship nuclear new-build…
Is climate change too important to keep in a silo?
by New Power • • 1 Comment
I am worried about losing the climate change function when the Department of Energy and Climate Change disappears. But at the same time I wonder whether we should consider it an important opportunity. Over Decc’s short life renewable energy has…
Economy 7 customers face losing the service; the system loses flexibility. Should it be maintained?
by New Power • • Comments Off
The Energy Networks Association is consulting over whether the teleswitching service should be switched off next year. The service allows energy suppliers to switch payment rates for customers on tariffs such as Economy 7, and remotely switch on and off…
Stage diving into a smart, distributed, energy system
by New Power • • Comments Off
Feel for the government that has not only to set out a new energy vision but deliver it. The dangers – some actual, some purely political – over the transition from one to the other sees nervous policymakers trying to…
Decarbonisation: it’s about much more than power
by New Power • • Comments Off
As the editor of New Power, no-one likes talking about power stations more than me. But I was still disappointed that the Green Alliance’s debate as it launched a report on low carbon opportunities (“Will the UK succeed in a…
What is an engaged energy customer? And how many make a competitive market?
by New Power • • Comments Off
A competitive and innovative energy market depends on engaged customers who are ready to switch for better value, better service or better ideas. That need has been underlined by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in its recommendations on improving…