April 2015 Ofgem Supply Market Indicators (SMI) In our regular monthly review of Ofgem’s Supply Market Indicators we focus on April 2015’s release from the energy regulator. Wholesale Prices Ofgem predicted that wholesale prices will make up 37% of the average electricity bill and 46% of the average gas bill These levels compare favourably with Ofgem’s prediction of 38% and 51% respectively […]
SNP bid for UK energy policy influence
They had been doing so well, a rare sane and consistent voice in the energy market, but the strength of the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee (ECCC) has been decimated just as the battle was turning in their favour. We had long known that Tim Yeo, the combative chair, was leaving at the end […]
Gazprom facing the ‘Google’ gallows
Bad news for Russia as Margrethe Vestager, the European Union’s competition regulator accused Russia’s state-owned energy company, Gazprom, of holding Europe to ransom over gas imports. It’s been a long time coming as the commission has been compiling evidence since September 2011 when its officials raided the offices of Gazprom and its affiliates. So why […]
Smart Meter Roll Out: The latest disaster blockbuster
Like Star Wars, the saga continues, but no one’s looking forward to this one. Least of all the new government. Active commentators on the failings of the energy industry, the Energy and Climate Change (ECC) committee has turned its attention from its regular input into CMA commentary and guidance and urgently called for the government […]
Mixed messages from the global energy market
Mix messages from the now globalised energy market dominate the pricing landscape right now. For every glut in LNG supply as Japan announces its long awaited nuclear restart, there is increasing strangulation of US shale as OPECs oil price strategy continues to escalate, there is also an exit from gas storage limiting supplies. All in […]
Wind power finds support ahead of the election
It may be maligned in many quarters, not least within the current government but in 2014 one quarter proved very happy with wind generation indeed. That quarter was the 24% rise of onshore and offshore wind to produce the “lion’s share” of renewable electricity in 2014, according to the latest DUKES report from the government. […]
nPower to slash administration costs
To the surprise of perhaps only one man, Paul Massara, Chief Executive of nPower has finally admitted that taking his business from the bottom of the energy sector’s customer service surveys (and indeed the position they occupy at the base of all major UK businesses) to the top spot is not attainable. The publicity stunt, […]
SNP energy gambit looks desperate
The Scottish National Party (SNP) riding the crest of the wave formerly occupied by UKIP as the king making minor party and fresh from backing Labour’s price freeze folly, has now called for the right of the Scottish government to obtain “joint oversight” of Ofgem. Given the SNP’s route to power sharing, and Labour’s, is […]
Labour: The nightmare of small business
A Labour-led government would put small businesses at risk and lead to a mass sell-off by investors, Goldman Sachs warned last night. The investment bank stated that a Labour victory would be viewed as “more problematic by the business community” than a Conservation re-election. Indeed Ed Miliband, it seems, is almost trying to wipe out […]
Labour/SNP disagreement goes nuclear
Labour has continued to stand its ground over new nuclear build and in doing so has blasted the Scottish National Party (SNP) view that there should be a ban on further nuclear development. Shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint said the party has made it clear that: “Nuclear is an important part of the energy mix […]