is around half the total infrastructure investment planned for the UK economy over the next few years, the equivalent of 20 Olympic stadiums being built every year. It has a vital role in helping to get the economy back on track.It is no secret that there have been tough negotiations over the past few months to get agreement – notably for the tripling of support to low carbon investment to £7.6 billion by 2020 which we need to ensure that we meet our 2020 renewable target. Also we would have liked to have been setting a decarbonisation target range for the power sector in 2030 now rather than when the 5th carbon budget is set in 2016. But securing a power in the Energy Bill to set this target range is a significant success in the face of opposition from some Conservatives. Of course it would have been better for supply chain investors to have legislative backing for our decarbonisation ambition as far ahead as 2030. But let’s not forget that setting this target in 2016 will give 14 years notice, more than was given for meeting the 2020 renewables target.
I know from my constituents how many are struggling to meet rocketing energy bills. The main cause of this increase is the rising price of wholesale gas. That is why shifting to low carbon energy is important so that in the medium and long run consumers will pay less. But in the short term it is important that consumers can get the cheapest tariff for them. That is why I will be legislating to simplify the over complicated tariff structure and make switching, both individual and collective, easier for bill payers.
But it is important that we do not focus just on electricity generation. We know that the most cost effective way to reduce bills and carbon emissions is to reduce energy consumption. So today we are launching a consultation on how we can best reduce electricity demand, in addition to the measures which we are already taking through the innovative Green Deal.
Liberal Democrats are proud of our reputation as the party which is most concerned about the environment – that is why I first joined the Liberal Democrats. Now through the Energy Bill we can put our policies into practice.
* Ed Davey is the MP for Kingston & Surbiton and Leader of the Liberal Democrats
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6 Comments
If the price of wholesale gas is going to become more than that of renewables then why does the government need to intervene?
Why don’t we just be honest about what we’re doing; upping the existing stealth taxation on domestic energy to an average of £550/household/year?
This policy will hit the poorest hardest and large parts of the subsidy will go to rich landowners who can provide renewables?
Why was the bill published on the same day as Leveson?
A link to the “Electricity Demand Reduction” Consultation resources can be found here: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/emissions/edr/edr.aspx
“We know that the most cost effective way to reduce bills and carbon emissions is to reduce energy consumption.”
I expect, but don’t have much hope of it actually happening, that the building regulations will be swiftly updated to require all new housing to achieve the zero carbon target that was being proposed for implementation sometime after 2016. Doing this would mean that between 500,000 and 1 million more new homes (than would otherwise be the case) would be contributing to the decarbonisation target.
@ Thomas Long
“If the price of wholesale gas is going to become more than that of renewables then why does the government need to intervene?”
It’s a questionof infrastructure, lead time and the means of individual consumers.
Gas wholesale prices can go up instantaneously. The retail prices follow in a slightly more smoothed way. If the generating capacity for renewables doesn’t exist, and it takes years to build, the consumer has no choice. Hard-up consumers have even less choice, as they probably don’t have the money for improvements in their premises and have less access to good deals from suppliers.
Im doing my bit to protect the environment and so are many people I know. We have to turn the heating off and ration it now, never mind when the stealth taxes come in.
Thats all right up to a point but what about fuel poverty in the short and medium term Ed?? Something needs to be done to alleviate the affects on people with low incomes.