An Example of A Renewable Energy Policy

EDF became the fifth big energy company to announce a price hike yesterday. They are increasing prices by 10.8% from 7 December, citing the (disputable) excuses of higher network charges, energy efficiency and social schemes and wholesale energy costs. Folk living in the north of Scotland will pay even more than the rest of the UK.

The company insisted its new standard variable prices would still be lower than those of the other four big suppliers to have announced price rises recently.

E.ON is the only one of the big six energy suppliers that hasn't announced price rises yet this autumn, having pledged to fix prices until the end of 2012.

Last week the energy regulator Ofgem said it would make the market 'simpler, clearer and fairer' for consumers.  This promise came days after David Cameron urged the energy giants to overhaul confusing tariff systems.

We hear protests from politicians every year and Ofgem isn't fit for purpose.  It has little or no power to dictate to the suppliers.

Let's not forget green taxes make up 20% of household energy bills. The politicians are directly responsible for that as they insisted upon introducing renewable energy policies which they were fully aware would increase prices so much that many hundreds of thousands would fall into the full poverty trap each year.

Pointman has an excellent post this week.  He outlines the position of Germany which quickly changed from a mixed energy policy to one using renewables.  If we don't realise the UK - and Scotland in particular - is running down the same road, but at a slightly different speed, then we're fools.

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Killing Us To Save The World

A guest post by Apogee.

I wonder if the politicians are starting to realise the mess they are in with global warming.

In the 50's and 60's there were attempts to modify weather with spraying various things, dry ice, yes CO2 was one -I think bromide was another and we dont know what else. This should be stirred because the illegitimates are taking us to the cleaners.  The reason for the experiments was ostensibly to cause rain where the climate had become dryer than it used to be.  Manipulation of weather is still continuing and the German greens have brought the issue to the attention of the public.

If you think about the possibility of the planet cooling, the result of the current actions may be the reduction of coal and atomic power stations to nil and the realisation that there is not enough generation capacity to supply needs when we are in a situation where the coal mines have deteriorated to the point of being unusable. Having no quick means of increasing generating capacity, the government will need at least three years to get enough generating capacity of any kind and the quickest will be ........coal!  

By that time the country will be in increasing power deficit which will only be corrected at the end of the correction time. And if, as seems to be the case, the whole country will be literally be freezing to death. Never forget that although gas may be available - if you can afford it - central heating systems require electric power to operate and if the electric is not there the heating will not run. If the weather gets too cold the windmills will not turn so will not  generate, assuming that there is any wind to turn them.

So will the average citizen have back-up electric generation capability? Very unlikely and will there be fuel for it if available? Equally unlikely.

So what is the answer? Either a sudden outbreak of sanity and logical thinking by our politicians to get us out of the "green bubble" we are now in (and you thought the credit bubble was bad!) or the only sane alternative is to emigrate to any other country with a reasonable warm climate and living standards which will have you and your dependants; In other words become a refugee. Because it is very probable this country will no longer be able to pay the current levels of benefits and pensions that are paid now.

Apogee

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Forecast: A Cold, Cold Winter

The Scottish Power announcement of a 19% rise in gas and a 10% rise in electricity must have stunned householders across the country yesterday.  It did me because I know my own supplier will follow suit. The knock-on effect of this rise will be felt by most of the population and we're told there are more rises to follow.

The video shows an interesting graph.  The utility companies blame rises in wholesale prices for the steep increases yet, if you observe the blue line, you will note that it's only very recently wholesale prices have risen.

Will the Westminster government take action against such a drastic increase in the cost of living?  Edward sent me a copy of a letter, published yesterday in his local paper, because he "thought others might appreciate the vision of our elected representatives.  There seems to be no trace of irony in it."

The article is reproduced accurately. It's timing is impeccable at least. The photograph is my idea. Apologies but I couldn't find one of Ms Latham in Cloud Cuckoo Land so the rolling hills of Derbyshire will have to suffice.

Derby Telegraph 6 June 2011

MP LATHAM PREDICTS LOWER BILLS AFTER A “DRAMATIC CHANGE” IN ENERGY POLICY

A DERBYSHIRE MP has praised campaigners for continuing to draw attantion to climate change issues.

Mid Derbyshire MP Pauline Latham spoke at a rally organised by the Derby Climate Change Coalition.

It focused on a new bill going through Parliament designed to improve the supply of energy efficiency measures to homes and businesses and reduce carbon emissions across the county.

Conservative MP Mrs Latham said:”I am pleased I had the opportunity to talk about climate change and the positive steps the Energy Bill proposes.

“Having championed green issues as the Mayor of Derby, I am glad the Climate Change Coalition continues to draw attention to this important issue.

“Following the speeches and lively question and answer sessions at the rally I hope those who attended were reassured that the Energy Bill will kick start a dramatic change in Britain's energy policy by cutting carbon emissions and helping to lower household energy bills.”

Labour MP Chris Williamson, who represents Derby North, also spoke at the event, held at the Joseph Wright Centre in Derby.

He said that city firms could benefit from the bill and cited innovative work being carried out by Rolls Royce in civil nuclear fields.

Dozens of people attended the meetin and also listened to speeches by Paddy Tipping, the former MP for Sherwood and national vice president of the Ramblers' Association.

He wants to see a billion hectares of woodland planted in the UK over then next ten years.

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Holyrood Emissions

The Scottish Government website states 'Climate change is one of the most serious threats facing the world...' I always thought it was poverty and disease and I haven't altered my opinion.

The 'world-leading' Climate Change (Scotland) Act was passed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament in 2009. When I read it then my immediate thought was 'this is going to cost each and every one of us a fortune', along with the fact that the targets set were not only extremely ambitious but completely unachievable in a country where the temperature can be zero and below for a few months of the year.

A FoI shows the estimated cost of Scotland's climate change laws is £8 billion. It's not often I'm right, but on this occasion an approximate cost of £1600 for every man, woman and child in this country is ludicrous.

What are we doing? Scotland is renowned for our medical research, once upon a time is was renowned for our education system but that accolade has bitten the dust, we're infamous for having the highest percentage of early deaths, we can still produce world-class engineers and medics through our universities, (although most have enough common sense to move, as soon as they're qualified, to countries which value them) and we intend to spend £8 billion on a scam which has no scientific concensus.

Some of the expense, for example the £800m which will go on planting an extra 15,000 hectares of forest every year, is sensible but £3.9bn on transport, when we don't have links directly with many European countries, is staggering. Included in that amount is the building of new cycle paths and footpaths. If our politicians think that prettying up footpaths and encouraging more cyclists will achieve a reduction in emissions they really are in cuckoo-land. Because of our climate there's not going to be an influx of walkers and cyclists. The present number will fluctuate by only a few points.

Then there is the £3.2bn which will go on energy efficiency plans, the bulk of it on home insulation subsidies. That's interesting. Anyone with any sense would have their home well insulated by now, considering the cost of gas and electricity has risen over 60% in the past couple of years. So where will the £3.2bn go? Into the public housing sector I presume. Who will pay for it? Us. Bills will become even more extortionate and there's nothing we can do about it. We have a choice though and ought to be grateful - pay up, freeze or starve.

Derek Brownlee, the finance spokesman for the Scottish Tories said: "We need to make sure we are not reducing emissions by wrecking the economy." Pity the Tories hadn't though of that before they voted for this despicable law.

source

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Dream or Reality?

Matt Stockdale, a man who made millions discovering an oven cleaner that works (I can vouch for that), has launched new website.

At Cost Energy is offering electricity and gas at cost price and claims he can save households a minimum of £320 a year.

The launch promised 'no hidden extras, no flashy offices, no directors bonuses, just the same gas and electricity you use currently'.

He said more than 10,000 people had already switched - " We are creating the UK's first people's energy company."

At Cost Energy has recently submitted its draft application to EFGEM to become a licensed gas and electricity supplier so no license has yet been issued. This is being reviewed and will become a public record, giving existing energy companies an opportunity to object to their license being granted.

A dream or reality? Politicians won't like this one bit will they? We must not dismiss the efforts of Matt Stockdale though because it is a feasible ideal, but I'm never comfortable dealing with any online business unless I have a contact phone number and address which I can verify. I refuse to deal with businesses which do not award me that courtesy. (Having said that it look some searching a few years ago to find much information about Scottish Power).

I wish Matt Stockdale every success in dealing with the bureaucracy involved with energy in this country. He'll need it.

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Have We Enough Gas to See Us Through the Winter?

click to enlarge

(to help you the UK is bottom left)

graph source

I was listening to Radio5Live during lunch and there was a discussion about gas. The question asked was 'Have we enough gas to see us through this winter?'

The answer from the studio guests was yes but I thought I'd investigate a little further because of one comment a guest made.

The UK used to receive all its gas from the North Sea but that is no longer the case as supplies dwindle. We now receive gas from Europe and further afield, although at present Norway is our main supplier.

Norway has a vast store of gas which they sell to other countries.

France also stores gas and is currently expanding their facilities while Germany has the biggest storage facility in Europe. Other European countries store gas (as you can see from the graph above).

The UK contains the only oil producing country in Europe - yes that's Scotland. Yet, since the 1970s, no government has made arrangements to store gas for our use in the colder months. We have no gas stored for our own consumption.

The UK has no gas storage facilities (although they are being considered now) and therefore, we have to import gas at peak prices, while other countries buy it during the summer months when prices are low, store it, then sell it to us at exorbitant rates during winter. That's the reason our gas prices are so high and will become higher.

All too often I say to myself these days 'why does that surprise me?' This does surprise me, it angers me too. This is a true example of the incompetence of our politicians in the last 25+ years. They have no concern for the people of these islands and what better illustration do we need to show this. Our leaders are quite prepared for many to struggle to pay gas prices and watch other put their health at risk because they just can't afford to keep warm. Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows you must store essentials, be it food, gas, electricity or other forms of fuel.

Are you going to vote for people who treat us with such disdain? I'm certainly not.

I'm fortunate though, I can vote for a party which, many years ago, proposed gas storage as an issue of urgency and great importance. They were met with short shrift from Westminster who were more concerned at pleasing the south of England. If the SNP's suggestion had been acted upon, we wouldn't be paying the high prices we're paying today - none of us.

While I'm writing about energy, I thought it may interest you to know that there are a few wind turbines in this area. A friend sees some from her window. They've only turned twice in the last two weeks. EUReferendum mentioned this a couple of days ago and the latest one is here. As Richard says seems like we're more reliant on coal at present and that won't please the climate changers. It looks as if we can't rely on wind either to keep Scotland from darkness doesn't it.

I foresee a rethink about the installation of more wind turbines. If any politician is brave enough to stick their head above the parapet that is.

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