The letter sent by the Committee on Fuel Poverty to Rishi Sunak on 2 September 2022.
Category: Energy
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Boris Johnson – 2022 Speech on Energy
The speech made by Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, on 1 September 2022.
Good afternoon everybody
Thank you for coming today, thank you for coming everybody to Sizewell
It’s wonderful to be here and to see this astonishing plant and to meet the staff and some of the young people who are going to be working here, already are working here..
Now, when I was a child, I had a wonderful book – a much thumbed ladybird book called the story of nuclear power,
It was published in 1972
And I used to go through it again and again
and I was enthralled to read how scientists split the atom here in the UK for the first time
and they did it at the Cavendish laboratories in Cambridge
and I noted that the world’s first civilian nuclear reactor, the first civilian nuclear power station was at Calder Hall in Cumbria, now of course Sellafield
and I look back at the optimism in every page of that book and what has happened since
and at the short-termism of successive British governmentsat their failure to do justice to our pioneering nuclear history
their abject failure to think of the needs of future generationsabove all the families that are today struggling with the cost of energy in this country
I feel like one of those beautifully drawn illustrations of what happens in a nuclear pile when the graphite rods are taken out at the wrong moment
My blood starts to boil and steam comes out of my ears and I think I’m going to melt down
And I asked myself the question: What happened to us?
When Sizewell was opened in 1966 it was the eighth reactor that this country had built in just 7 years
Why have we never got back to that kind of rhythm? Have we lost the gumption and the dynamism of our parents and grandparents
but it gets worse
When Sizewell B -fantastic white dome – was completed in 1995 it was the 5th reactor in 7 years
1995 – an era that was technologically so primitive that people used things called carphones and went down to blockbusters to rent VHS videos
Think of the colossal technical progress in other areas – and contrast the paralysis in nuclear energy
how many new nuclear power stations have we built in the 27 years since?
How many have been connected to the grid?
How many slices of bread could we toast with the additional nuclear power we have created?
how many washing machines could we power?
How many families have been helped with extra nuclear energy?
The answer is, none, zero, zilch
The French, they have loads of nuclear power stations already, they’ve built four more since 1995– bringing their total reactor fleet up to about 56, the Indians have added about 12 and the Chinese have built more than 50 additional nuclear reactions since 1995!
and you know why we have failed? It’s not even as though we have some cultural aversion to nuclear power
I just met those nice protestors outside – it wasn’t some atomkraft nein danke – they seem to be objecting to the disruption to the roads, it’s pure nimbyism out there
I will diagnose the problem
It’s called myopia. It’s called short-termism
It’s a chronic case of politicians not being able to see beyond the political cycle
Tell that to British businesses and industries that are desperately short of affordable and reliable electricity
tell that to the families struggling with the cost of heat and light this winter
It is because of that kind of myopia that here in the country that first split the atom we have only 15 per cent of our electricity from nuclear – and it is falling
whereas in France it is at 70 per cent
and we ask ourselves why France is more self reliant than we are when it comes to energy
why they have found it relatively easier to hold down their costs
and yes nuclear always looks – when you begin, it always looks relatively expensive to build and to run
but look at what is happening today, look at the results of Putin’s war
it is certainly cheap by comparison with hydrocarbons today
in fact if Hinkley Point C were already running already this year
it’s been delayed for ages and ages of course
it would be cutting fuel bills by £3 bn
I’ll say that again – if Hinkley Point C were running now, it would be cutting fuel bills by £3 bn
So you have to look ahead
And you have to beware of the false economyIf you have an old kettle that takes ages to boil, it may cost you £20 to replace it
But if you get a new one you will save ten pounds a year every year on your electricity bill
I remember when the government finally did the deal on Hinkley C– in fact by then I was already sitting in the cabinet
and I remember some people protesting that the strike price of £92.50 per kilowatt hour was very, very expensive
it doesn’t look so expensive today
that is why we must pull our national finger out and get on with Sizewell C
That is why we are putting up to £700 m into the deal
Just part of the £1.7bn of Government funding available for developing a large-scale nuclear project to final investment stage in this Parliament,
and in the course of the next few weeks I am absolutely confident that it will get over the line.
and we will get it over the line because it would be madness not to
This project will create tens of thousands of jobs, but it will also power 6m homes – that is roughly a fifth of all the homes in the UK
So it will help to fix the energy needs not just of this generation but of the next
a baby born this year will be getting energy from Sizewell C long, long after she retires
and this new reactor is just a part of our Great British nuclear campaign
we will build a reactor a year again
we will build them across the country, at least eight of them, large ones and small modular reactors
and of course they are not the entire solution to our energy needs – far from it
yes we are increasing our own domestic hydrocarbons
we’ve got more gas out of the north sea this year than last year, considerably more, 26% more
we are putting a big bet on hydrogen and on carbon capture and storage
and because of the activism of the government we are now racing to our target – and we will hit it – of 50 GW of offshore wind by 2030
this is a huge amount, it’s probably half the electricity needs of the country from offshore wind
I’ll tell everybody who thinks hydrocarbons are the only answer and we should get fracking and all that
that offshore wind is now the cheapest form of electricity in this country
offshore wind is nine times cheaper than gas because of the insanity of what Putin has doneand that’s why it makes sense for us to become more self-reliant
and of course it is entirely clean and green
so renewables are not only helping us to defeat climate change
they are also helping to keep bills lower than they would otherwise be in this crisis
what Putin has done is to launch a kind of kamikaze attack on the world economy
He doesn’t care how much pain Russia suffers
He believes that ultimately we will flinch, that western politicians do not have the stomach for the fight
He believes that we will give up on Ukraine, give in to his aggression and go back to mainlining his hydrocarbons
And I have to tell you he is wrong
He is wrong about his assumptions about the British people
I think he is wrong about other European governments too by the way
I talked to Olaf Sholz last night and it is absolutely clear that Germany is resolute in moving away from dependence on Russian
And Putin in this strategy is going to fail
So we are helping people now with the cost of living and of course there will be more cash to come in the months ahead
Substantial sums – that’s absolutely clear
But now even more important our British energy security strategy of Great British nuclear is rectifying the chronic mistakes of the past
taking the long term decisions that this country needs
and I would say frankly folks over the last 3 years this government has done some very difficult thingswe have done some of the hardest tasks that you can set politicians
we fixed our relations with the European Union
we settled that argument pretty conclusively
we got brexit done and took back control of our law-making even though we knew it would not be easy
we opened up our economy post covid faster than any other major country because of the speed of our vaccine rollout
we led the whole of Europe in helping the Ukrainians and in standing up to Putin and seeing the wisdom from the start in arming them and assisting them
and at every stage of the last three years – and I hope I can say this given this will be one of my last speeches in this office
at every stage what we have tried to do is put in the things that this country will need for the long term
to try to look at what future generations will need for their prosperity, their productivity and for their quality of life and to reduce the cost of living as well
so whether that’s gigabit broadband gone up from 7% penetration to 70% of premises now
three new high speed rail lines
investing massively in this country’s ability to make its own vaccines
fixing social care
coming up with a solution for that problem
I think it would be fair to say this government has not shirked the big decisions
we have raised our eyes, we’ve looked to the horizon
and I just say whoever follows me next week I know that they will do the same
No more national myopia
No more short termism
let’s think about our future, let’s think about our kids and grandchildren, about the next generation
with the prophetic candour and clarity of someone about to hand over the torch of office
I say go nuclear and go large and go with Sizewell C.
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Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on the Energy Price Cap
The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 26 August 2022.
Ofgem’s announcement that the energy price cap will rise to £3549 in October confirms what many of us have long feared. Despite repeated warnings, the Government has consistently failed to intervene and Ministers must act now to prevent this cost of living crisis becoming a national disaster.
Without Government support, some Londoners will not only be forced to choose between heating or eating but could struggle to do either. The Government must immediately freeze bills and introduce a Lifeline Tariff to ensure the most vulnerable people in our city receive a basic amount of free energy every day.
Through transformative initiatives like my Warmer Homes scheme I’m committed to doing all I can to support Londoners through this deepening crisis but, with energy prices soaring and more families struggling to make ends meet, this Government needs to step up and take urgent action now.
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Caoimhe Archibald – 2022 Comments on the Global Energy Crisis and Stormont
The comments made by Caoimhe Archibald, the Sinn Fein MLA for East Londonderry, on 24 August 2022.
There are hundreds of millions of pounds locked in a Stormont bank account that can help ease the pressures people are facing, but it cannot be spent because of the DUP’s cruel block on an Executive being formed.
The DUP’s refusal to form a government has also created uncertainty on the roll out of the £400 payment to support every household in the north.
So rather than looking for others to blame for their failures, the economy minister should tell his party to stop punishing ordinary workers and families and form a government now. That is the easiest way to get money into pockets.
As we face an increasingly bleak winter, people rightly want ministers around the table and working together to help workers, families and businesses who are struggling to pay their bills and keep their shutters up.
Sinn Féin is ready to form an Executive today, to work with others, and put money in people’s pockets to tackle the cost-of-living emergency. That’s our focus.
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Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on Londoners Facing Fuel Poverty
The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 17 August 2022.
Many Londoners don’t know how they are going to keep warm this winter. Some don’t know how they will feed their children. This is a crisis and the Government needs to get serious. That is why I am calling on Ministers to convene Cobra, act on calls to stop energy bills from rising and for the introduction of an emergency Lifeline Tariff to ensure the most vulnerable Londoners are able to access basic energy use this winter. I am determined to deliver net zero in a way that helps Londoners manage these costs increases but I can’t do it alone.
“We’re now suffering the consequences of a decade of Government inaction on energy efficiency. The Government must match my pace and ambition and support plans like my own that would save lives this winter.
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Boris Johnson – 2022 Comments on the Cost of Living
The comments made by Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, on 12 August 2022.
Countries around the world are feeling the impact of Putin’s damaging war in Ukraine. We know that this will be a difficult winter for people across the UK, which is why we are doing everything we can to support them and must continue to do so.
Following our meeting today, we will keep urging the electricity sector to continue working on ways we can ease the cost of living pressures and to invest further and faster in British energy security.
We are continuing to roll out government support over the coming months, including the second £324 instalment of the cost of living payment for vulnerable households, extra help for pensioners and those with disabilities, and the £400 energy bills discount for all households.
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Caroline Flint – 2012 Comments on Energy Price Increases
The comments made by Caroline Flint, the then Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, on 12 January 2012.
With falling wholesale costs, all energy companies must cut their prices for now. They are very quick at hiking up energy bills when prices rise – they need to be just as quick in cutting them when prices fall.
For the future we need a more a responsible and competitive energy market that works in the public interest. But one thing all energy companies should do now is ensure that all over 75s are on the cheapest possible tariff.
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Nadhim Zahawi – 2022 Comments on £400 Discount off Energy Bills
The comments made by Nadhim Zahawi, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 29 July 2022.
We know that people are struggling with rising energy prices which is why we have taken action with support over the winter months to help ease the pressure on household budgets.
This £400 off energy bills is part of our £37 billion of help for households, including 8 million of the most vulnerable households receiving £1,200 of direct support to help with the cost of living.
We know there are tough times ahead and we will continue to do everything in our power to help people.
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Kwasi Kwarteng – 2022 Statement on the Energy Security Bill
The statement made by Kwasi Kwarteng, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, in the House of Commons on 6 July 2022.
As the world has emerged from the covid-19 pandemic, global demand for energy has risen significantly—this has been exacerbated by Putin’s malign invasion of Ukraine. As a result, the wholesale price of gas has reached historically high levels.
That is why we are taking measures to support families.
We are acting now with a £37 billion package of financial support this year. Millions of the most vulnerable households will also receive £1,200 of one-off support in total this year.
Making changes to the National Insurance Contribution threshold which take effect from today, with a typical employee saving over £330 a year.
Cutting bills by investing in energy efficiency. We are also making huge progress on the energy efficiency of UK homes making them more comfortable and affordable to run, backed by £6 billion of funding over this Parliament. In 2008, 9% of UK homes had an Energy Performance Certificate of C or above—it is now 46%.
But secure, clean and affordable energy for the long term depends on the transformation of our energy system. This means more home-grown energy from more diverse sources which reduce our dependency on imported fossil fuels and our exposure to volatile and high prices in international markets. And we will reform our energy markets so consumers benefit from lower-cost, home-grown renewables and other low- carbon technologies. Our agenda will catalyse investment, reversing lost decades of under-investment, and boosting jobs and new industries in a world-leading, low-carbon economy.
That is why we are bringing forward a landmark Energy Security Bill. This Bill will deliver a cleaner, more affordable and more secure energy system for the long term. It builds on the ambitious commitments in the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan and the British energy security strategy to invest in homegrown energy and maintain the diversity and resilience of the UK’s energy supply.
We will do this by:
Leveraging private investment in clean technologies and building a homegrown energy system.
Over the last decade the UK has built one of the most diverse energy systems in the world but previous Governments have historically failed to make these investments which has left us in the current situation. The Bill will deliver key commitments from the British energy security strategy, the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan and net zero strategy to drive an unprecedented £100 billion of private sector investment by 2030 into new British industries and supporting around 480,000 clean jobs by the end of the decade.
Accelerate the growth of low carbon technologies. We will introduce state of the art business models for carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen, attracting private investment by providing long-term revenue certainty. Together with the measures on CO2 transport and storage, this will put the country on a path to seize market share and grow the economy.
Enable the set up and scale up of the first of a kind CO2 transport and storage networks. The Bill will establish the economic regulation and licensing framework to ensure successful deployment.
Taking further steps to explore the role for hydrogen to heat our homes and workplaces. We will enable the delivery of a large village hydrogen heating trial by 2025, providing crucial evidence to inform strategic decisions in 2026 on the role of hydrogen in heat decarbonisation.
Scale up heat pump manufacturing and installation, and a new white goods industry in the UK. We will establish a market-based mechanism for the low-carbon heat industry to step up investment and lower the cost of electric heat pumps, through economies of scale and innovation.
Take the next big leap on the technology of the future with fusion regulation. We will make the UK the first country to legislate for fusion, providing clarity on the regulatory regime for fusion energy facilities.
Reforming our energy system to protect consumers from unfair pricing.
The last piece of primary energy legislation of this scale was the Energy Act 2013. Almost 10 years later we need to ensure that this Bill accounts for the current global context.
Enabling the extension of the energy price cap, protecting families. The energy price cap is the best safety net for 22 million households, preventing suppliers from overcharging consumers. The Bill will enable the extension of the price cap beyond 2023.
Enhancing our network security with a new system operator, which will boost energy resilience. We will establish a future system operator, an independent body with responsibilities in both the electricity and gas systems, ensuring efficient energy planning, enhancing energy security, minimising cost to consumers and promoting innovation.
Creating more competition in our electricity networks to deliver bill savings. We will enable competition in onshore electricity networks, delivering up to £1 billion savings for projects tendered over the next 10 years.
Protect consumers from increasing network prices in the event of energy network company mergers. We will enable the Competition and Markets Authority to review any relevant energy network company mergers under the Energy Network Special Merger Regime. We estimate this could save energy consumers up to £420 million over 10 years.
Protecting consumers from cyber threats with new protections for smart appliances. We are taking powers to deliver appropriate protections for consumers and the grid by placing requirements on energy smart appliances.
Helping consumers manage their energy use and cut their bills to help with the cost of living. We are continuing to drive industry progress on the smart meter rollout which is set to deliver a £6 billion net benefit to society.
Enabling innovation and gearing our system toward net zero. We will reform energy codes, overhauling the way that the technical and commercial rules of the energy system are governed.
Reducing the number of cabling, landing points, and substations. We will introduce multipurpose interconnectors as a licensable activity, we are providing certainty to investors and developers, enabling them to make decisions regarding future multi-purpose interconnector projects.
Removing obstacles to innovative batteries and pumped hydro storage. We will facilitate the deployment of electricity storage, such as batteries and pumped hydro storage, by clarifying it as a distinct subset of electricity generation.
Creating a more equal and fair energy market. We will enable the Government to establish a buy-out mechanism under the ECO scheme for suppliers.
Ensure families living on heat networks are better protected. By appointing Ofgem as the new regulator for heat networks in Great Britain, we will ensure consumers get a fair price and a reliable supply of heat.
Kick-starting the development of heat networks. By enabling heat network zoning in England, we will overcome barriers to deployment by identifying areas where they provide the lowest cost solution to heating buildings.
Taking back control of powers given to the EU on the energy performance of buildings. The Bill will provide a replacement power to enable the UK Government to amend the EU-derived Energy Performance of Buildings regime going forward.
Ensuring the safety, security and resilience of the UK’s energy system.
The responsible operation of the UK energy system is crucial for our safety and security. That is why the Bill will bring forward measures relating to core fuel resilience, nuclear and the offshore oil and gas sectors.
Protect our fuel resilience from malicious action. We will bring forward measures for downstream oil security—oil terminals, filing stations etc—to prevent fuel supply disruption, such as from industrial action, malicious protest and for reasons of national security.
Boost British nuclear by removing barriers to investment. The British Energy Security Strategy is clear that nuclear is an important part of the UK’s energy mix. The Bill will remove potential barriers to future investment by enhancing our nuclear third party liability regime.
Prepare for our nuclear future and clean up the past. The Bill will also facilitate the safe, and cost-effective clean-up of the UK’s nuclear sites, ensuring the UK is a responsible nuclear state by clarifying that a geological disposal facility located deep below the seabed will be licensed.
Making our oil and gas sector fit for the future to ensure high standards. Our oil and gas sector will continue to play an important role in ensuring security of supply. This Bill will enable existing legislation to be updated ensuring that the offshore oil and gas environmental regulatory regime maintains high standards in respect to habitats protection and pollution response.
Ensure responsible ownership of our UK assets. The Bill will ensure that the UK’s oil and gas and carbon storage infrastructure remains in the hands of companies with the best ability to operate it.
Protecting taxpayers by maximising cost recovery. In line with the polluter pays principle, the Government will be able to more fully recover the costs associated with regulating offshore oil and gas decommissioning activities from the industry.
Simplifying regulatory frameworks. This Bill will bring forward the final delicensing and re-use of nuclear sites. It will allow more proportionate clean-up of these sites, resulting in estimated savings of around £490 million (NPV) over the first 20 years, with similar savings up to 2080.
Strengthen the Civil Nuclear Police’s powers to help keep Britain safe. This Bill will introduce legislation to enable the Civil Nuclear Constabulary to utilise their expertise in deterrence and armed response to support the security of other critical infrastructure sites.
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Kwasi Kwarteng – 2022 Comments on Bolstering UK Energy Security
The comments made by Kwasi Kwarteng, the Business and Energy Secretary, on 6 July 2022.
To ensure we are no longer held hostage by rogue states and volatile markets, we must accelerate plans to build a truly clean, affordable, home-grown energy system in Britain.
This is the biggest reform of our energy system in a decade. We’re going to slash red tape, get investment into the UK, and grab as much global market share as possible in new technologies to make this plan a reality.
The measures in the Energy Security Bill will allow us to stand on our own two feet again, reindustrialise our economy and protect the British people from eye-watering fossil fuel prices into the future.