Queen’s Speech promises acting tackling “unfair practises” in energy market

Glasgow’s leading Commercial EPC provider has welcomed the announcement of new energy measures in the Queen’s Speech.
A number of new bills affecting the energy industry were announced in last week’s unveiling of the UK government’s legislative programme for the next two years -despite the government appearing to drop an election pledge to cap domestic energy costs.

In her speech to Parliament, the Queen said:

“My government will ensure fairer markets for consumers, this will include bringing forward measures to help tackle unfair practices in the energy market to help reduce energy bills.”

Supporting documents suggest the government intends to extend price protections currently available to vulnerable energy consumers to people on poor value tariffs, although it is not clear whether this will be done through new legislation or the industry regulator Ofgem.

Other measures announced in the Queen’s Speech include:

• A promise to implement the Paris Climate Change treaty despite plans from President Trump to withdraw America from the agreement – with the government pledging its commitment to “taking a lead in the global response to climate change”.
• A Smart Meter Bill establishing a Special Administration Regime to ensure the continuing operation of the national smart meter service if a provider becomes insolvent.
• A Nuclear Safeguards Bill creating an Office for Nuclear Regulation to take over from Euratom following Brexit.
• An Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill stating an ambition to make “almost energy car and van” zero-emission by 2050 and including the installation of charging points by large fuel retailers

Scottish Energy Expert Raj Chall of Scottish Energy Services responded to the Speech.
He said:

“Although the devil will of course be in the detail of these bills, the precarious position the General Election has left the government in and the energy that will inevitably be expended on the Brexit process means any commitment to new energy efficiency legislations from the UK government are to be welcomed.

“From a Scottish perspective, these announcements should not be seen as a definitive list of forthcoming energy legislation, with much responsibility in that area devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

“The Scottish government has always been more forward-thinking when it comes to energy efficiency measures and I expect to see that continue.

“Certainly the majority of the most important energy efficiency measures of recent years – things like the Section 63 legislation and regulations affecting Commercial EPCs – have come from Holyrood rather than Westminster”

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Other measures announced in the Queen’s Speech include:

• A promise to implement the Paris Climate Change treaty despite plans from President Trump to withdraw America from the agreement – with the government pledging its commitment to “taking a lead in the global response to climate change”.
• A Smart Meter Bill establishing a Special Administration Regime to ensure the continuing operation of the national smart meter service if a provider becomes insolvent.
• A Nuclear Safeguards Bill creating an Office for Nuclear Regulation to take over from Euratom following Brexit.
• An Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill stating an ambition to make “almost energy car and van” zero-emission by 2050 and including the installation of charging points by large fuel retailers