Utility Week - authoritative, impartial and essential reading for senior people within utilities, regulators and government
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Seven days... National media story by NUMBERS Fracking set to arrive in the South Eco firms fall short Households "right across the South", in Wiltshire, Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex, should prepare for shale gas fracking to begin in their localities, energy minister Michael Fallon has warned. The Telegraph UK is fifth largest fossil fuel subsidiser Britain is now the world's fifth largest subsidiser of fossil fuels, according to a report from the Overseas Development Institute. The think-tank said Britain was "shooting itself in the foot" by subsidising fossil fuel industries by £2.6 billion a year at the expense of green energy. The Guardian Lawson: EDF nuclear strike price too high Lord Lawson said the government had been "taken for a ride" by EDF Energy in setting the strike price for Hinkley Point C. Lawson said the French statebacked group had been awarded a "ludicrously high strike price, which will be paid for by levies on consumers' energy bills for 35 years". The Times 3.9% The average price rise announced by EDF this week, the lowest rise announced this autumn so far Most of the seven eligible suppliers are struggling to meet their Energy Company Obligation (Eco) targets, say the latest figures from Ofgem. 10% Proportion of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Obligation (CERO) that SSE, Npower, First Utility and British Gas have yet to meet, a year into the scheme 100% Amount of CERO target First Utility still has outstanding 18% Proportion of its Carbon Saving Community Obligation (CSCO) SSE has met Government poised to cut policy costs from bills Confidence was growing that the government would move some energy policy costs off bills as the affordability debate reached fever pitch on Tuesday. EDF announced a price rise of 3.9 per cent, half that of its main competitors, on the expectation the government would cut costs associated with the Energy Company Obligation (Eco). The company warned that it would raise prices if the expected savings did not appear. Meanwhile, a panel of industry executives at Energy UK's flagship conference in London said they were assuming that the government would decide to pay for some "green levies". Energy bosses have previously pledged to pass those cost savings straight to customers. Energy secretary Ed Davey said the outcome of the government's review of policy costs on bills would be announced "on or before" the date of the chancellor's Autumn Statement. "The political tempo is picking up and rational debate starts being set aside when things get emotional" 4 | 15th - 21st November 2013 | UTILITY WEEK Dorothy Thompson, chief executive of Drax, speaking at Energy UK's annual conference In a speech warning the sector was facing its own "Fred the Shred" moment – referring to a low point in the public's perception of banking associated with former RBS chief executive Fred Goodwin – Davey said there was a "valid debate" to be had on how policies were paid for. However, he said to cut those policies would punish the fuel poor and future generations. Davey denied the EDF announcement was forcing the government's hand. "Quite a few people have been trying to put pressure on the government… my job is to represent a neutral position for the country and customers," he said. Adam Scorer, director of Consumer Futures, said: "Government needs to reconsider how we pay for social and energy efficiency programmes. But it must not lose sight that these are vital schemes for reducing households' bills over the longer term." MD £13.7m The amount the NHS is expected to save through 69 energy efficiency schemes awarded funding this week