The Energy Bill [Bill 100 of 2012-13] seeks to implement ‘electricity market reform’ and through this achieve ‘secure, clean and affordable’ electricity supplies. The Bill was introduced to the Commons on 29 November 2012 and will have its Second Reading debate on 19 December 2012. A draft Bill was subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee.
Energy Bill (578 KB , PDF)
The Energy Bill 2012 seeks to implement ‘electricity market reform’. The aims of this, as for Government energy policy generally, are for ‘secure, clean and affordable’ energy supplies. The Bill introduces a new system of support for low-carbon generation, called ‘Contracts for Difference’ which will encompass nuclear as well as renewable generation. It allows for other measures to reform the electricity market, such as capacity auctions, and measures to support routes to market for independent generators should such powers be needed. However, it does not include all of the recommendations made by the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee following its pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Bill. The Committee also said that certainty and stability were needed urgently for investors, but several consultations associated with measures in the Bill are still on-going.
Other provisions in the Bill include placing the Office for Nuclear Regulation on a statutory footing, allowing for the possible sale of the Government Pipeline and Storage System, and ‘consumer redress’ powers, allowing Ofgem to require energy companies to pay compensation to consumers.
The Bill’s Second Reading will take place on Wednesday 19 December 2012.
Energy Bill (578 KB , PDF)
The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme supports new low carbon infrastructure. This briefing provides an overview of the CfD scheme, statistics on the projects it has delivered, stakeholder commentary and changes to the scheme under consideration.
A Westminster Hall debate on community benefits from renewable energy projects is scheduled for 15 October. The debate will be opened by Angus McDonald MP.
This Library briefing sets out financial and practical help for constituents with domestic energy bills.
