Campaigners called for a rebalancing of energy policy, focusing as much on demand reduction as supply.
Source: Rebecca Willis and Nick Eyre, Demanding Less: Why we need a new politics of energy, Green Alliance
Links: Report | ECI press release
Date: 2011-Dec
A report (by an official advisory body) examined the impact on energy bills of meeting carbon budgets to date and over the next decade. It said that recent bill increases had primarily been due to increased wholesale gas costs. In the period to 2020, policies to achieve a low-carbon economy would add around £110 to annual fuel bills – with scope to offset this if energy efficiency could be improved.
Source: Household Energy Bills: Impacts of meeting carbon budgets, Committee on Climate Change
Links: Report | CCC press release | Consumer Focus press release | Guardian report | Inside Housing report
Date: 2011-Dec
The coalition government began consultation on its proposed 'Green Deal', designed to promote the take-up of energy-saving schemes by the domestic sector.
Source: The Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation: Consultation Document, Department for Energy and Climate Change
Links: Consultation document | DECC press release | Guardian report | Inside Housing report
Date: 2011-Nov
The initial findings were published from a study of the likely social distributional impacts of government energy and climate change policies. In general, those groups that were most likely to be vulnerable and/or socially excluded tended to have lower-than-average carbon dioxide emissions. The relative inelasticity of domestic fuel use was likely to mean that policies that increased the cost of domestic fuels would be regressive.
Source: Eldin Fahmy, Joshua Thumim, and Vicki White, The Distribution of UK Household CO2 Emissions: Interim Report, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Links: Report | JRF press release
Date: 2011-Nov
The coalition government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on electricity markets. It acknowledged that there were a number of barriers to entry and growth in electricity generation and supply markets.
Source: Ofgem's Retail Market Review: Government Response to the Committee's Sixth Report, Eighth Special Report (Session 2010-12), HC 1544, House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, TSO
Links: Response
Notes: MPs report (July 2011)
Date: 2011-Oct
A report examined the key energy policies aimed at carbon reduction and fuel poverty that had direct cost implications for consumers. It explained the nature of an energy-saving programme that was targeted at households in fuel poverty; and it discussed the potential conflicts that needed to be averted to ensure a socially just transition to a low-carbon society.
Source: Helen Stockton and Ron Campbell, Time to Reconsider UK Energy and Fuel Poverty Policies?, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Oct
The Energy Act 2011 was given Royal assent. The Act provided for the introduction from 2012 of the 'Green Deal'. From April 2018 it would be unlawful to rent out a house that had less than an 'E' energy efficiency rating.
Source: Energy Act 2011, Department for Energy and Climate Change, TSO
Links: Act | Explanatory notes | DECC press release | Labour Party press release | Guardian report
Notes: Under the 'Green Deal' programme, householders would be able to get energy efficiency improvements carried out with capital provided by businesses, which would get their money back through energy bills.
Date: 2011-Oct
The interim findings were published of a government-commissioned review of fuel poverty. The report said that the 'overwhelming argument' of those submitting evidence was that fuel poverty did constitute a distinct problem: but the existing definition was open to a number of criticisms. It considered a range of other potential ways of measuring fuel poverty. It suggested an alternative approach, under which those counted as 'fuel poor' would be those who had required fuel costs that were above the median level, and who – were they to spend that amount – would be left with a residual income below the official poverty line.
Source: John Hills, Fuel Poverty: The Problem and Its Measurement, Department for Energy and Climate Change
Links: Report | Hansard | Citizens Advice press release | Consumer Focus press release | Green Party press release | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Oct
A think-tank report examined the options for decarbonizing household heat, and examined the barriers that policymakers faced in doing so. None of the participants in the study – drawn from households with moderate incomes – was prepared to invest in the existing range of renewable heat technologies. The most significant barrier was the upfront cost of installing the technology: but many were also sceptical about its efficacy, and not attracted by the offer of a tariff-based incentive.
Source: Andrew Pendleton and Jenni Viitanen, Warmth in a Changing Climate: How should the government encourage households to use renewable heat?, Institute for Public Policy Research
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Sep
The Energy Bill was given a third reading. The Bill provided for the introduction from 2012 of the 'Green Deal'. From April 2018 it would be unlawful to rent out a house that had less than an 'E' energy efficiency rating.
Source: Energy Bill [HL], Department for Energy and Climate Change, TSO | Debate 14 September 2011, columns 1043-1145, House of Commons Hansard, TSO
Links: Bill | Explanatory notes | Hansard
Notes: The 'Green Deal' is a programme designed to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. Under the scheme, householders would be able to get energy efficiency improvements carried out with capital provided by businesses, who would get their money back through energy bills.
Date: 2011-Sep
A think-tank report said that neighbourhood groups could play a leading role in improving the energy efficiency of homes and community buildings, and in putting renewable energy technologies to work.
Source: Reg Platt with Will Cook and Andrew Pendleton, Green Streets, Strong Communities: What communities can do for emissions reductions and what emissions reductions can do for communities, Institute for Public Policy Research
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jul
A report by a committee of MPs said that there were 'a number of serious problems' with electricity markets, which were having an adverse effect on consumers. The level of tariff complexity that confronted consumers was unacceptable. Action was also needed by the regulator to tackle the 'continued blight' of mis-selling.
Source: Ofgem's Retail Market Review, Sixth Report (Session 2010-12), HC 1046, House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report | Citizens Advice press release | Consumer Focus press release | Friends of the Earth press release | Labour Party press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Jul
The Department for Energy and Climate Change published its annual report for 2010-11.
Source: Annual Report and Accounts 2010-11, HC 1009, Department for Energy and Climate Change, TSO
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jul
In 2009, the number of fuel-poor households was estimated at around 5.5 million, a rise of around 1 million when compared with 2008, and representing approximately 21 per cent of all households.
Source: Annual Report on Fuel Poverty Statistics 2011, Department for Energy and Climate Change
Links: Report | Barnardos press release | Citizens Advice press release | Consumer Focus press release | Friends of the Earth press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Inside Housing report | Telegraph report
Notes: A household is said to be fuel poor if it needs to spend more than 10 per cent of its income on fuel to maintain an adequate level of warmth.
Date: 2011-Jul
A think-tank report said that climate policies were unnecessarily complex, and called for a simpler policy framework that would help ensure that managing energy use was a greater priority for organizations.
Source: Guy Newey, Boosting Energy IQ: UK energy efficiency policy for the workplace, Policy Exchange
Links: Report | Policy Exchange press release
Date: 2011-Jul
The coalition government published (following consultation) a set of national energy policy statements, designed to speed up development consent for nationally significant energy infrastructure projects.
Source: Written Ministerial Statement 23 June 2011, columns 25-26WS, House of Commons Hansard, TSO
Links: Hansard | Policy statements (6 links) | Response to consultation | Response to MPs | CBI press release
Date: 2011-Jun
The consumer rights watchdog examined the role of information on consumers' energy bills and annual statements, and the potential that this had to help consumers. The research identified a number of limitations in the effectiveness of this information in 'nudging' behavioural change in consumers.
Source: Hannah Mummery and Gillian Cooper, Missing the Mark: Consumers, energy bills, annual statements and behaviour change, Consumer Focus
Links: Report | Consumer Focus press release
Date: 2011-Jun
An audit report said that there were 'major risks' to value for money from the government's £11.3 billion national programme to install 'smart' electricity and gas meters in all homes and smaller non-domestic premises from 2014 to 2019.
Source: Preparations for the Roll-Out of Smart Meters, HC 1092 (Session 2010-2012), National Audit Office, TSO
Links: Report | NAO press release | Consumer Focus press release
Date: 2011-Jun
A think-tank report said that the European Union directive requiring the United Kingdom to supply 15 per cent of its total energy demand from renewable sources by 2020 was 'hugely and unnecessarily expensive'. The coalition government needed to either renegotiate the target or reduce the wasted costs of implementing it.
Source: Simon Moore, 2020 Hindsight: Does the renewable energy target help the UK decarbonise?, Policy Exchange
Links: Report | REA press release
Date: 2011-May
The Energy Bill was given a second reading. The Bill provided for the introduction from 2012 of the 'Green Deal'. From April 2018 it would be unlawful to rent out a house that had less than an 'E' energy efficiency rating.
Source: Energy Bill, Department for Energy and Climate Change, TSO | Debate 10 May 2011, columns 1053-1133, House of Commons Hansard, TSO
Links: Bill | Explanatory notes | Hansard | DECC press release | Consumer Focus press release (1) | Consumer Focus press release (2) | Friends of the Earth press release (1) | Friends of the Earth press release (2) | LGA briefing | NHF briefing
Notes: The 'Green Deal' is a programme designed to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. Under the scheme, householders would be able to get energy efficiency improvements carried out with capital provided by businesses, who would get their money back through energy bills.
Date: 2011-May
The coalition government announced legally binding plans to halve carbon dioxide emissions by 2025, in line with the recommendations of the independent Committee on Climate Change.
Source: Debate 17 May 2011, columns 176-192, House of Commons Hansard, TSO
Links: Hansard | CBI press release | Consumer Focus press release | Friends of the Earth press release | Green Party press release | ICE press release | UKGBC press release | Guardian report
Date: 2011-May
A think-tank report examined the future development of the regulatory system for utilities and financial services.
Source: Stephen Littlechild et al., Reflections on Regulation: Experience and the future, Adam Smith Institute
Links: Report | ASI press release
Date: 2011-May
A think-tank report warned that the coalition government's 'Green Deal' scheme, under which households would be fitted with energy-saving technology, risked being rejected by home-owners because of its high cost.
Source: Ingrid Holmes, Financing the Green Deal: Carrots, sticks and the Green Investment Bank, E3G
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-May
A report by a committee of MPs said that the coalition government risked distorting its planned reform of the electricity market merely to save political face over implicit subsidies for nuclear power.
Source: Electricity Market Reform, Fourth Report (Session 2010-12), HC 742, House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report | Additional evidence | CBI press release | Friends of the Earth press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-May
A report (by an official advisory body) said that renewable energy should make a major contribution to decarbonizing the United Kingdom economy. A renewable energy share of around 30 per cent by 2030 would be appropriate, with scope for a higher share (up to 45 per cent) depending on the extent to which renewable technology costs fell and possible constraints on deployment of low-carbon alternatives.
Source: The Renewable Energy Review, Committee on Climate Change
Links: Report | CCC press release | Friends of the Earth press release | Imperial College press release | REA press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2011-May
The consumer rights watchdog examined the 'success factors' involved in building consumer confidence in energy efficiency measures.
Source: Liz Laine, Green Deal or No Deal: Building customer confidence in energy efficiency services, Consumer Focus
Links: Report | Consumer Focus press release
Date: 2011-Mar
The consumer rights watchdog examined the potential impact of the Green Deal. It looked at different consumer groups and property types, and considered the benefits for both individual householders and national policy goals in relation to fuel poverty and carbon emission reductions.
Source: Liz Laine, Access for All: Making the Green Deal a fair deal, Consumer Focus
Links: Consumer Focus press release
Notes: The 'Green Deal' is a programme designed to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, enabling householders to get energy efficiency improvements carried out with capital provided by businesses – with repayments through energy bills.
Date: 2011-Mar
A study found that tenants living in cold homes that posed the greatest risk to health could save £488 per year on fuel bills if the properties were improved to a basic standard of heating and insulation.
Source: Frances Downy, Which Way Up: Advance headline findings, Friends of the Earth/WWF
Links: Report | FOE press release
Date: 2011-Mar
The energy industry regulator said that retail market competition was being stifled by a combination of tariff complexity, poor supplier behaviour, and lack of transparency.
Source: The Retail Market Review: Findings and initial proposals, Office of Gas and Electricity Markets
Links: Report | Ofgem press release | Citizens Advice press release | Consumer Focus press release | ICE press release | Labour Party press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Telegraph report
Date: 2011-Mar
A briefing paper examined the 'Green Deal' – a government scheme that would enable customers to receive money upfront to make energy efficiency improvements to their properties.
Source: Louise Smith, The Green Deal, Standard Note SN/SC/5763, House of Commons Library
Links: Briefing paper
Date: 2011-Feb
A paper examined the European Union's energy policy under the Treaty of Lisbon rules. It considered the extent to which energy policy constituted a new policy area, and whether the EU was a more coherent actor in this and other instances where competence was shared with the member states.
Source: Jan Frederik Braun, EU Energy Policy under the Treaty of Lisbon Rules: Between a new policy and business as usual, Working Paper 31, European Policy Institutes Network
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Feb
The government responded to the results of consultation on proposals for a 'warm home discount', under which energy companies would be required by law to give a discount on energy bills to more of their most vulnerable customers. It said that a majority of respondents were 'broadly in agreement' with the government s proposals for the scheme.
Source: Government Response to the Consultation on the Warm Home Discount, Department for Energy and Climate Change
Links: Response to consultation | EAS press release
Notes: Consultation document
Date: 2011-Feb