Page 9 - Gi flipbook May 2018

Britain intends to stay in Europe’s Claire Perry

carbon market until at least 2020

BRITAIN INTENDS TO to provide certainty for dioxide (CO2) they emit.
remain in Europe’s Emission companies covered by the Companies from these
Trading System (ETS) until scheme until at least the sectors have urged Britain
at least the end of its third end of phase three. to stay in the scheme until
trading phase running from As reported by Reuters, the end of the current
2013-2020, Britain’s Energy she was speaking to trading phase to avoid and enforced by the
Minister has said. members of the cross-party disruption, but are divided European Court of Justice,
The status of Britain’s EU Energy and Environment over Britain’s longer term and industry experts have
participation in the scheme Sub-Committee, in the participation in the scheme. said it could be politically
following the country’s exit House of Lords. Perry said Britain is difficult to justify staying
from the European Union Britain is the second- committed to using a price within the scheme.
in March 2019 had been largest emitter of on carbon as a means to Britain has a legally
unclear until now. greenhouse gases in Europe reduce emissions, but would binding target to cut
Energy and Clean and as a result its utilities use the country’s exit from emissions of harmful
Growth Minister Claire and industry are among the the European Union to greenhouse gases, such as
Perry said it had yet to largest buyers of permits “to see if there are other those produced by fossil-
be formally agreed with in the ETS, which charges opportunities” to achieve this. fuel-based power plants,
European lawmakers but power plants and factories Rules of the ETS are set by 80 per cent from 1990
the government wanted for every ton of carbon by the European Parliament, levels by 2050. ■

Ofgem bans energy suppliers not include all companies
and those that have signed
from back-billing customers up do not always stick to it,
Ofgem said.
The ban will not apply
to customers who actively
ENERGY COMPANIES leave consumers struggling supplier’s billing system or prevent suppliers from
WILL soon be banned from financially or even in debt from suppliers estimating taking or receiving accurate
back-billing customers for to their supplier. bills until they use an meter readings.
gas and electricity used The average back-bill was actual meter reading, But consumers will not be
more than 12 months £1,160 last year, but extreme which may show that the at fault for failing to provide
previously, reports The cases have seen customers customer’s consumption is meter readings, and Ofgem
Independent. receiving bills in excess higher than expected. said suppliers will need to
Ofgem said correct of £10,000, according to Many suppliers are part of assess consumer behaviour
billing was an essential part Citizens Advice. a voluntary agreement not on a case-by-case basis.
of customer service, and Back-bills can result to back-bill customers past The new rule will come
large catch-up bills could from problems with a 12 months, but this does into effect at the beginning
of May for domestic
consumers and in November
for microbusinesses.
Rob Salter-Church,
Ofgem’s interim Senior
Partner for Consumers
and Competition, said:
“Large catch-up bills can
leave consumers struggling
financially or even in debt
to their supplier.
“Getting billing right is an
essential part of customer
service, and it’s unfair that
consumers should be left
out of pocket when, through
Customers are sometimes no fault of their own, they’re
hit with steep back-bills issued with a shock bill from
their supplier.” ■

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News.indd 4 19/04/2018 12:43