So you’re sat in the dark after a power cut but what do you do? Who should you be calling in the candlelight when your electricity fails? Only 20% of people know who to call in the event of a power cut, the majority turning incorrectly to their energy supplier. Northern Powergrid is raising awareness […]
£45 million failure for Ofgem energy rules
Another failure for Ofgem as their electricity market reforms fell flat costing energy companies around £45 million. Ofgem implemented new rules to ensure that the largest energy companies are only allowed to trade at pre-determined times during the day. The idea was that it would increase trading and competition allowing smaller players to flourish yet […]
Energy prices rise with blackout threats
As the threat of blackouts become more likely this winter, UK energy generators could be taking advantage of the opportunity to inflate market prices to astronomical figures. National Grid will be calling upon reserve capacity and back up power plants this winter to ensure a secure power supply for the UK. Wholesale power prices typically […]
Nolan backs new Ofgem comparison site rules
Dermot Nolan, CEO of Ofgem has backed up the new rules set out earlier this year with regard to price comparison websites (PCWs). Ofgem amended its Confidence Code, ensuring that all PCWs now provide a “whole of market view” of tariffs, rather than hiding some suppliers or deals with the view to restoring customer confidence. […]
Emergency electricity measures employed by National Grid
With increasing numbers of coal-fired power plants being shut down and an unusually low output of electricity from wind farms, National Grid were forced to take desperate measures on Wednesday. Under threat of blackouts, National Grid had to rely on large businesses to cut their electricity demand to ensure the UK would not be in […]
Britain has the most expensive electricity in Europe
Britain has the highest domestic electricity prices in Europe with customers paying double the continental average. The typical British household pays 14.8p/kWh before tax while the pre-tax price in Bulgaria sits at just 5.75p/kWh. While our tax sits much lower at 5% than most of the rest of Europe, Britain has still seen the biggest […]
High risk of blackouts this winter
National Grid warns of potential blackouts this winter as the capacity margin hits a record low of 1.2%. Capacity margin is the average amount of extra electricity available compared to peak winter demand. Households will be expected to fund subsidies to new gas power stations to increase capacity and avoid darkness. Measures have already been […]
Planning approved for largest onshore wind farm
Scout Moor has received planning permission to add a further 14 turbines to its current site of 26 making it the largest onshore windfarm in England. Peel Energy and United Utilities requested 16 extra turbines but only 14 have currently been approved with the other two pending. Rossendale Borough Council gave the go-ahead, which will […]
More energy customers switching supplier
Energy UK has recorded the highest number of switches this year for a July since it started records. Looks like consumers are finally taking notice of the energy market amongst high-profile publicity in the press and a government campaign. The energy market has been under close scrutiny with the general elections and recent CMA investigation […]
Potential winter blackouts as electricity supplies get tighter
Fears that blackouts could be a possibility this winter have spurred on National Grid to buy more power from generators and invest in demand-side response as electricity capacity margins are the lowest they’ve been since 2007 after several power station closures. National Grid director of market operation Cordi O’Hara explains: “It is clear that electricity […]