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industry & government news

BRITAIN WILL HAVE ‘ENOUGH GAS

FOR FIRST WINTER OUTSIDE EU’

which predicted a marked increase in
energy prices for homes and businesses
if the UK crashes out without a deal.
However, odds on a no-deal Brexit have
shortened since Prime Minister Boris
Johnson secured a bid to take Britain back
to the polls for a 12 December election.
He is hoping a change in Parliamentary
arithmetic will allow him to get his Brexit
deal through the House of Commons.
National Grid blamed a slowdown
in the UK’s home energy efficiency
efforts for the growing demand for gas
to heat houses.
It findings come ahead of fresh calls
WEANING THE UK OFF EUROPEAN IMPORTS COULD RAISE COSTS FOR ENERGY BILL PAYERS from 30 companies, including energy
suppliers, green groups and the CBI, to
BRITAIN WILL BE ABLE to keep its more gas and electricity than it needs. make home energy efficiency a national
lights on and homes warm through But National Grid’s annual winter infrastructure priority.
the winter even if imports of European forecast revealed that weaning the UK Jonathan Marshall, Head of Analysis at
electricity and gas come to a halt, off European imports would come at a the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit,
according to National Grid. price to energy bill payers. said: “Action on cutting energy waste at
The energy system operator said the A report commissioned by National Grid home has slowed, while the approval of
UK’s first winter outside of the European before the 2016 referendum predicted more gas-fired power stations would drag
Union would pose no extra challenges to that energy bills could climb by £500 the UK further off track.”
securing the UK’s gas and power supply. million every year by the 2020s if the UK He added: “With British gas reserves
Brexit is not expected to completely left the EU’s internal energy market. dwindling, now would be the time to
disrupt UK-Europe energy trading, but This was supported by the crack on with reducing reliance on
even if no imports are possible from government’s leaked no-deal planning fossil fuels in general, bringing in a
continental Europe the UK will have report, Operation Yellowhammer, cleaner, cheaper future.”

GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES SCHEME TO SAY

GOODBYE TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY COWBOYS

A NEW GOVERNMENT scheme They will now be able to search the
aims to ensure tradesmen installing TrustMark website for accredited
energy efficiency measures for tradespeople, checking their installers
low-income families will have to be are recognised before they start work
trusted and certified. on their homes.
It will mean contractors must be Business, Energy and Clean Growth
registered in order to give residents Minister Kwasi Kwarteng said:
confidence that they will get a good “Driving up the energy efficiency of
service, according to Energy Live News. Britain’s homes is key to us reducing
The initiative will also protect all other emissions from households, saving
homeowners having energy efficiency people money on their bills and
improvement work carried out on their helping us to end our contribution to
properties when they choose to use a global warming entirely by 2050.
TrustMark-registered business. “This new scheme will guarantee
Around 15 per cent of households households the peace of mind that
take an energy efficiency measure workmen installing energy efficiency
each year, with the industry worth measures in their homes are trusted
more than £20 billion across the UK. tradesmen.” ENERGY EFFICIENCY CONTRACTORS WILL
NEED TO BE TRUSTMARK REGISTERED

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14/11/2019 16:53
News.indd 2
News.indd 2 14/11/2019 16:53