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The energy experts speak out
UK gas markets reach record lows
By Paul Gleaves, Head of Risk and Trading This week saw Apr ‘20 gas contracts close on 28.35 p/Th, the lowest price for any gas annual since Apr ’08 (annualised futures hit 30.88 p/Th on 20th February 2007). Gas prices have been on a prolonged slump as high global...
Ofgem launches Decarbonisation Action Plan
By Paul Gleaves, Head of Trading & Risk Energy regulator Ofgem has launched its ‘Decarbonisation Action Plan’, outlining the key actions that they intend to take over the next 18 months as the UK moves towards achieving its target of net zero emissions by 2050....
Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR)
By Joanne Merry, Head of Product Development Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR) is a compliance requirement that was introduced in 2019 under ‘The Companies (Directors’ Report) and Limited Liability Partnerships (Energy and Carbon) Regulations 2018’ as a...
What does Brexit mean for the UK energy sector?
By Paul Gleaves, Head of Risk & Trading As of 11pm on 31st January 2020, the UK will no longer be a member of the EU and will enter into a transition period which will last until 31st December 2020. But what does this mean for the energy markets? The truth is that...
Brexit – Entering the transition period
By Melanie Kendall-Reid, Director of Consultancy Services Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have overwhelmingly backed the terms of the UK's departure from the EU. MEPs ratified the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement by 621 votes to 49 following an emotional debate...
UK Environment Bill reintroduced to drive net-zero aspirations
By Melanie Kendall-Reid, Director of Consultancy Services The UK Government reintroduced its flagship Environment Bill ahead of Brexit outlining new regulations including; powers to stop the export of plastic waste to developing countries and the introduction of new...
Brexit Bill given royal assent
By Paul Gleaves, Head of Trading & Risk Almost four years after the United Kingdom voted for Brexit, the Withdrawal Bill formally became law yesterday after the Queen gave it ‘Royal Assent’. The new law means that as of the 31st January, the UK will no longer be a...
Leading the way with climate action
Author: Tracy Lewis, Managing Director Welcome back from the festive break! The Environmental Bill was back on the political agenda last month. The Queen during the State Opening of Parliament told MPs and Lords that environmental principles and targets were to be...
Is the UK Government’s commitment to enshrine environmental principles into law enough?
Author: Melanie Kendall-Reid, Compliance Director On Monday, 14 October 2019 the UK Government announced its plans, during the Queen’s Speech, for the long overdue Environment Bill. The Queen stated that the bill, published the following day, will enshrine principles...
Water market deregulation yet to deliver an improved customer service
Author: Joanne Merry, Technical Director The water market de-regulated in England on 1st April 2017 to remove barriers to competition and deliver a resilient water supply network. It followed in the footsteps of Scotland, which became the first country in the world...
Brexit: Boris demands new concessions from the EU
Author: Melanie Kendall-Reid, Compliance Director Boris Johnson has requested that the EU reworks the terms of the UK’s future relationship with the union to allow Britain to significantly diverge from European rules after Brexit. Theresa May had committed to a level...
Net-zero target: Compliance or complacence?
Author: Lisa Turner, Head of Marketing There has been much in the press around net-zero since the government announced its intention to become the first G7 country to legislate a zero emissions target. As one of the biggest contributors of carbon emissions, this...
May sets out her vision ahead of upcoming Brexit negotiations
Author: Melanie Kendall-Reid, Compliance Director Speaking in London today, the Prime Minister, Theresa May, called for a wide-ranging free trade deal with the EU after Brexit. The speech was delivered ahead of the start of negotiations on the UK’s future partnership...
New Energy Legislation – Are You Prepared For 1st April 2018?
Author: Melanie Kendall-Reid, Compliance Director On 1st April 2018, there are important energy industry changes coming into effect. With only a few weeks to go, if you have not already taken action, now is the time. The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) is a...
The 25 Year Environment Plan: Too Long to Deliver What is Needed Now!
Author: Melanie Kendall-Reid, Compliance Director The Prime Minister has finally revealed the UK's 25 Year Environment Plan following months of anticipation and speculation. Whilst it has received its fair share of criticism there are positive messages in it – in...
2017 Environmental Policy Review: Clean Growth for 2018 and Beyond
Author: Melanie Kendall-Reid, Compliance Director 2017 was a year of surprises on many fronts and environmental policy certainly followed suit. There have been significant developments on the green policy landscape, for both the UK and the world, which presents a very...
COP23: Key outcomes in Bonn 2017 – By Melanie Kendall-Reid, Compliance Director
The extreme weather events that made headlines around the world certainly gave the annual event a sense of relevance and urgency, but cleaning up, as we all know, is an unglamorous process. Behind the scenes, the work got done, however, and, once one task was...
Budget 2017: War on plastic and diesel but apathy for renewables – By Melanie Kendall-Reid, Compliance Director
The government chose to focus its attention on plastics and diesel vehicles in the Autumn Budget yesterday. Whilst the Chancellor promised more funds to incentivise the uptake of electric vehicles, higher duty for diesel cars as well as measures to tackle the scourge...
Significant threat from delays in reform to renewable heat incentive – By Melanie Kendall-Reid, Compliance Director
The latest announcement of more delays to the reform of UK renewable heat policy have been condemned as a significant threat to the country’s long-term climate ambitions. The UK has faced numerous warnings that it will miss its 2020 renewable heat target unless major...
Mainstreaming energy efficiency: BEIS consults on carbon reporting through company accounts – By Melanie Kendall-Reid, Compliance Director
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has finally launched the consultation on Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting. Since the announcement in March 2016 that the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) would be scrapped in 2019 and an...
