Letter from Energy Minister, John Hayes to the Telegraph
Letter by John Hayes in response to an article by Alistair Buchanan, Chief Executive of Ofgem
SIR - Around one-fifth of our ageing power stations are due to close over the next decade. So, as Alistair Buchanan points out (Telegraph 19th February), because the Government is not complacent about the risk of a potential energy gap, I am steering through Parliament the most radical Energy Bill for a generation.
This Government is reforming the electricity market to help keep the lights on and prices down. Our reforms will incentivise a record £110 billion of private sector investment in new power generation – renewables, new gas, nuclear and Carbon Capture and Storage. Delivering a diverse energy mix will help to insulate consumers from the fluctuating price of fossil fuels.
As well as creating new infrastructure, we need to reduce the amount of energy that is wasted from our homes. Our energy efficiency programme, the Green Deal, is designed to help consumers lower their bills by making their homes more energy efficient. Importantly, we have tabled amendments to the Energy Bill to help households get on the cheapest available energy tariff. We are targeting the support available for vulnerable households with around two million due to receive support this year through the Warm Home Discount Scheme, including one million of the poorest pensioners who will get an automatic discount of £130 off their electricity bill.
John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Energy