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Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/331625
utILItY WeeK | 20th - 26th June 2014 | 15 Special report (Utility Warehouse) UTW SSE (Scottish Power) SPW (Npower) NPW (First Utility) FUT EON EDF (British Gas Trading) BGT (Utility Warehouse) UTW SSE (Scottish Power) SPW (Npower) NPW (First Utility) FUT EON EDF (British Gas Trading) BGT (Utility Warehouse) UTW SSE (Scottish Power) SPW (Npower) NPW (First Utility) FUT EON EDF (British Gas Trading) BGT % approved % notified % outstanding % approved % notified % outstanding % approved % notified % outstanding energy company progress Towards phase 1&2 (noTified measures) CERO CSCO HHCROa 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 141% 27% 19% 63% 0% 32% 49% 43% 0% 32% 51% 60% 0% 42% 59% 42% 0% 126% 122% 404% 135% 151% 89% 0% The desire to take action was widely wel- comed. Executive director at Which, Richard Lloyd, says this was a "good start", but not executed in the best possible way – leaving those in need of insulation potentially losing out. Decc itself admits the changes to Eco are trying to strike a balance between provid- ing immediate help by lowering bills, "while maintaining help for low income and vulner- able households". Alongside this, part of the goal of Eco was to lower the carbon emissions from heating the UK housing stock – more efficient homes require less energy; less energy means equals less carbon emitted. Less money for energy efficiency and lower targets means fewer homes get retrofit- ted, and more energy, carbon – and bill pay- ers' cash – is wasted. Summary The energy efficiency agenda in the UK has fallen prey to political circumstances, with Eco degenerating into a horror show that leaves all parties disappointed. The end of Cert and Cesp saw the only centrally funded energy efficiency pro- gramme in England disappear, and the Green Deal has failed to provide suitable support for Eco. Homes are still wasting energy, fuel pov- erty is set to increase, energy companies are being blamed and bills are still likely to increase in the long term. The political point-scoring and one- upmanship has also le Eco bruised and bat- tered as MPs use it as a political football. At face value, the changes to Eco sound great – make it cheaper, make it longer, and let more things qualify for installation. However, it is not so simple. By proposing to radically change the scheme only a year in, uncertainty has grown. By cutting the costs, the industry has almost cut the supply sector to the bone and when demand picks up, the insulation industry will struggle to ramp back up – with all the costs that entails. Suppliers, keen to minimise costs, will prioritise the cheapest projects – leaving the more expensive meas- ures, usually solid walls on properties that need it most – until last. The government has tried to strike a bal- ance, but at the same time attacked both its social and environmental goals. Fewer poorly insulated homes treated means more energy and carbon wasted. The changes are well-intentioned, but the long- term goal should be the focus. Energy bills may be increasing, but the best way to lower bills is to use less. To use less, homes must be more energy efficient. For homes to be more energy efficient, a stable policy and framework is needed. Let's hope the industry and politicians take note, and exorcise Eco's demons. 0% 50% 100% 150% 200%