Uncompetitive Competition: From Privatisation Ideals to the Big Six Caroline Kuzemko, IGov Team, 2nd December, 2013 About Caroline: http://geography.exeter.ac.uk/staff/index.php?web_id=Caroline_Kuzemko Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarolineKuzemko I have recently been re-reading some old academic articles on electricity markets – in particular by Professor Steve Thomas – in order to figure out how we got to this position in the UK. What is clear from his detailed analysis is that those economists and politicians tasked with the privatisation and liberalisation of the UK’s considerable energy assets envisaged a future where competition between companies would help to deliver affordable and secure energy. Early visions
Read More »Energy Security in a Multipolar World – conclusions and recommendations From: Catherine Mitchell To: BIEE, British Energy Security in a Mulitpolar World, 21st November 2013 Outline – ESMW 2008-2012 – Final phase coincided with publication with the November 2012 Energy Security Strategy – Provisos – ESMW a cluster so no one view – It is taken as a given that ESMW supports ‘traditional’ ES policies such as appropriate incentives for investment, infrastructure maintenance and development etc – Climate challenges to ESMW – What is different about ESMW? – Conclusions – Policy Recommendations Download presentation: CM energy-security-in-a-multi-polar-world
Read More »Coal – the fuel that came in from the cold Matthew Lockwood, IGov Team, 21st November 2013 About Matthew: http://geography.exeter.ac.uk/staff/index.php?web_id=Matthew_Lockwood Twitter: https://twitter.com/climatepolitics Coal is making a comeback in power generation. Burning coal produced 42% of our electricity in the last quarter of 2012, up from only 23% in early 2010. There has been a similar resurgence across Europe. Wholesale gas prices remain high (partly because many long-term contracts remain oil-indexed, and oil prices are buoyant), and coal prices are low. As the US has switched to shale gas in power production, US exports of coal to Europe
Read More »This document summarises some of the key outputs for the Energy Policy Group for October 2013. Download the EPG Oct 2013 update
Read More »University of Exeter, 30th October 2013 New – Summary of Outputs and Actions: Community energy report Final Agenda: Community Energy Agenda Opening Session Introduction from Alex Huke, University of Exeter Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQJ-XPgwEZw Download presentation: 1. Alex Huke Community Energy from Dr Shane Fudge, University of Exeter Watch:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smfpabNNoA0 Download Presentation: 2. Shane Fudge Stephen Gilbert MP (Parliamentary Private Secretary to Ed Davey at DECC) Pre-recorded video setting the scene from Government Watch:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehMMh3qGCNI Morning Session Steve Ford, Cornwall Council – Joined up thinking between Government policy, Cornwall Council and community renewables. Watch:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcD6uIFUykk Download presentation: 4. Steve Ford Matt Hastings,
Read More »Is the Climate Change Act safe? From: Matthew Lockwood To: University of Sussex, 12th November 2013 Outline Climate Change Act 2008 greeted as historical piece of legislation supposed to bind the hands of future governments, creating investor confidence Passed almost unanimously and first 3 budgets agreed easily in 2009 But problems emerge major disagreements over fourth budget (2023-27) in spring of 2011 eventually agreed, but review to be held in 2014 2030 electricity sector decarbonisation target called for to shore up confidence April 2013 – The Daily Telegraph calls for repeal of CCA Sep 2013 – Debate
Read More »Switched Off – is switching really a measure of consumer engagement? Richard Hoggett and Caroline Kuzemko, IGov Team, 12th Nov 2013. This time last week Ofgem ran an event on re-engaging energy consumers – at the time of writing you can still watch this online. It was timely, given the current political and media debates over how competitive the energy market is, although it was also acknowledged that even with better competition, prices are likely to remain high, if not rise, because of a range of factors such as on-going investment needs, rising wholesale cost
Read More »German wholesale prices have fallen by 50% since 2008 – why not in Britain? Catherine Mitchell, IGov Team, 6th November, 2013 About Catherine: http://geography.exeter.ac.uk/staff/index.php?web_id=Catherine_Mitchell When in doubt announce another review. In this case, the Energy Market Review – even though Electricity Market Reform, the already on-going process which is meant to sort out the energy industry problems, has not finished yet. What this new review should conclude is that (1) British energy prices are higher than they need be because the Government, Regulator and large energy companies, for different reasons, are collectively undermining competitive and
Read More »Varieties of capitalism and the politics of sustainable energy transitions From: Matthew Lockwood To: SPRU, University of Sussex, 25th October 2013 Outline Comparative variation in sustainable energy transitions Limits of socio-technical transitions approach for understanding why Comparative institutionalist political economy (‘varieties of capitalism’) as an alternative? OK, but why? So what – can institutional systems change? Tentative and controversial(?) Download presentation: ML Lockwood SPRU presentation 25-10-
Read More »The Solution to Rising Bills is Demand Reduction and Courage in Leadership Tom Steward, IGov Team, 25th October 2013 About Tom: http://projects.exeter.ac.uk/igov/people/igov-team/tom-steward/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Steward_T The nights are drawing in, leaves are changing from green to gold, and energy suppliers are announcing price hikes. Along with animals disappearing into hibernation, energy price rises have become what looks to be a permanent sign of the start of winter. This week, Npower and Scottish Power joined British Gas and SSE by announcing this years’ price rises. With bills reaching record levels, leading more and more households into fuel poverty[1],
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