For all too long the energy industry has known a secret that they didn’t want anyone else to know, least of all their captive customers. The secret was so effective that it actually became the perfect (invisible) marketing tool: By allowing the public and media to believe that “all energy suppliers are the same” you create a […]
Drax’s Annus Horribilis Continues
In many ways it’s been a horrible year for Drax who could be forgiven for looking forward to the end of 2014 more than most. Following DECC’s reneging on a ‘deal’ to back the conversion of their coal units to biomass generation and their recent, and record breaking, fine of £28m for not doing a good […]
Ofgem Act Again on CESP
In quick order following the fining of Intergen, Drax and British Gas for their failures under the Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP) scheme, Ofgem have again acted. This time it is GDF Suez, SSE and Scottish Power who are in the firing line. Under CESP, electricity generators as well as the energy suppliers were required […]
Lima Climate Change Summit Highlights Challenge of Paris 2015
“The text went from weak to weaker to weakest and it’s very weak indeed.” Not the script from the Paddington movie but another export from Peru. This time it was Sam Smith, Chief of Climate Policy for World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) reacting to the conclusion of the UN’s Lima talks in preparation for […]
Avoiding Blackouts, the UK’s First Capacity Auction Gets Underway
This week, existing and prospective energy generators in the UK have been participating in the first capacity market auction for the right to supply electricity to the market from 2018. 48.6GW The scheme, designed to secure the UK’s electricity supplies beyond 2030, is aimed at procuring 48.6 GW of capacity from 64.4GW of qualifying plant. […]
Ed’s CESP Folly Hits Home – Latest Ofgem Fines
It’s been a busy couple of weeks for Ofgem. With all the fines dished out they could be forgiven for looking forward to the Christmas break after what by any standards has been a tumultuous year for the regulator. Indeed never has insulation seemed such a commercial barometer but that is what it seems to […]
EDF Remain Bullish on Hinkley Point
You have to hand it to EDF Energy, despite all and sundry criticising the largesse of the taxpayer backing for the proposed Hinkley Point C nuclear plant development, the first in 20 years in the UK, and the apparent fraying support from their partners, the French state owned business is “pressing on” with the plans. […]
Funding for Lending to SMEs extended
Once again, as the government announces an extension to the Funding for Lending scheme for SMEs the latest results underline the paucity of monies lent to date. The Bank of England reported that in the three months to September 2014 lending under the scheme had fallen by £100m. The scheme, launched in 2012, fell by […]
VAT MOSS Rule Threat to UK SMEs
A ruling designed to challenge the world’s digital marketing giants could prove the death knell for a legion of UK micro businesses. That is the fear emanating from the latest incidence of unhelpful EU regulation hitting British industry. From New Years Day 2015, small businesses that trade their wares online will face paying VAT on […]
Ovo Energy Tops MSE Poll for Service
Ovo Energy, the new entrant independent supplier, has been voted as having the best customer service of 27 companies included in a poll by MoneySavingsExpert. Fully 81% of customers rated the South West based energy suppliers’ service as “good”. However nPower and Scottish Power were once again voted as providing the worst customer service in […]