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12 | 26th september - 2nd october 2014 | UtILItY WeeK Policy & Regulation This week Labour unveils its five steps to efficiency Pledge to make five million homes more energy efficient within ten years without extra spending The Labour party is ready to declare war on the UK's wide- spread energy inefficiency, with a five-point election manifesto, set out this week by shadow energy minister Caroline Flint. Flint told the Labour party conference on Tuesday morn- ing that the party's plans would make five million homes more energy efficient within ten years without additional gov- ernment spending or adding to consumer energy bills. The proposed measures follow Labour's pledge one year ago to freeze energy bills for 18 months if elected while "resetting" the energy market. "But the cheapest energy is the energy we don't use," Flint said. A Labour government would make one million interest-free loans available to homeowners in a bid to overhaul the floundering Green Deal scheme, which has suffered limited uptake since its launch. At the same time, Labour said it would ensure that 500,000 free home energy reports were made available every year, so families knew where and how they could cut their energy bills. For those on low incomes, Flint said the existing Energy Company Obligation (Eco) would be used to fund energy-efficient homes. "And unlike this government, we'll get the job done properly in one go and put local authorities and com- munities in the driving seat," she said. Private landlords will be responsible for funding energy efficiency improvements for the three million people who currently rent, and will need to meet a man- datory minimum standard of energy efficiency by 2027 under the party's plans. JA Water Ofwat confirms cap on fees has trebled Ofwat has confirmed that it has trebled the cap on the additional fees it can levy on water firms from 0.1 per cent to 0.3 per cent of each company's turnover. The move, which was pro- posed in October last year, has been made to fund the delivery of the 2014 price review. The regulator will now be able to recover up to an addi- tional £27 million over the next five-year investment cycle. This extra funding was required because of "significant changes" in Ofwat's approach to PR14 and the "scale of assurance required to guarantee its deliv- ery". The regulator stated that the previous cap, of £9 million, was "insufficient to allow [it] to recover the costs of carrying out the 2014 price review", which increased by £5.6 million. The regulator said the hike is a "one-off " and fees will come down again in 2015-16. However, it will retain the higher cap "to avoid another modification process… should it be necessary to increase our fees, as we move towards the 2019 price review". The modifications came into effect from March 2014. Gas Shale is 'a bridge to the greener future' Shale gas will "act as a bridge to the greener future we are all working towards", says energy minister Matthew Hancock. In a letter responding to questions submitted via the 'talk fracking' campaign website, Han- cock said the "government backs shale" because it will help the UK to lower its carbon emissions. He said shale gas would be used in gas-fired power stations to replace decommissioned coal to generate electricity "while we continue to develop low-carbon generation". In addition, shale can be used in domestic heating "while we develop and deploy renewable heat sources". enerGY Public 'needs a clear voice in planning' The public needs to be better consulted if major infrastruc- ture projects, including energy developments, are to progress successfully, according to the Green Alliance. The think-tank, whose advisory group includes Labour shadow ministers and advis- ers, said the renewal of energy and transport systems in the UK cannot be delivered if the government continues with "the traditional route of low level engagement with the public". Green Alliance called for a stakeholder council, which would provide a "broad civil society input" into the planning assessment and reviews. It also recommended that the planning process should include "city and county infrastructure dialogues". Flint: 'We'll get the job done properly in one go' 21-22 October 2014 Level 2, Olympia, London, UK The Largest gathering of the commercial UAV universe ever assembled with over 1500 visitors Register to attend the free exhibition at: www.terrapinn.com/uav (440) Utility Week UAV 2014 AD 60-180 1.2.indd 1 15/09/2014 10:37