UK set to rely on nuclear
March 26, 2008 at 2:41 pm
It’s all go for nuclear power in the UK, with this government and with the shadow party too. It might not be popular with the Liberals or the environmentalists but it seems there’s no way we can hide from atomic reactors now. According to the somewhat brave and vocal Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, John Hutton, who has the say over what our energy does, over the next 20 years we will see a reliance on our nuclear energy programme here in the UK.
January 2008 saw Mr Hutton announce plans for the updating of the existing ten nuclear plants, which means getting shot of the old and building the new. The big problem with nuclear, though, is that to get rid of the old is a very sensitive and not totally proven procedure and the building of the new takes decades to achieve and again isn’t proven as that safe either. There are too many unknowns when it comes to nuclear but this isn’t stopping Mr Hutton and the rest of his party from giving it their total support. It’s going to provide a carbon-low energy resource for the UK, so they say. But it’s not a huge drop in the carbon output – 4% in the next 20 years isn’t going to break the bank.
Mr Hutton spoke to the Financial Times and told them that he’d be “very disappointed” if the contribution from nuclear power stations into the nation’s electrical grid didn’t increase above the current 19%. It seems we’re living in a time that necessitates more drastic action for energy supplies than we might think, and Mr Hutton’s desperation for boosting our resources here in the UK is one of his main arguments in favour of nuclear and clean-coal over renewable energy resources such as solar and wind.
Energy industry ripping off the poor
March 13, 2008 at 2:14 am
The six major energy companies have been slammed by the industry watchdog, Energywatch, for ripping off their poorest customers. At a time when energy poverty is very much a hot potato, this must surely come as a great embarrassment for all concerned, especially in an industry which has made a £9 billion profit.
More than 4.5 million of society’s most vulnerable members are officially living in “fuel poverty”, spending more than a tenth of their income on gas and electricity, and many deaths each year are attributable to inadequate heating.
It was revealed yesterday that the poorest customers are paying over the odds for their gas and electricity compared to customers who are able to pay online. The difference is not just a few pounds either but can amount to a staggering £330 a year in the case of Npower customers. Scottish Power customers fare best of all, with a price differential of £167. These differentials have increased significantly since before Christmas, from an average of £190 to £255.
Prepayment meters are a popular method for pensioners, single parents and others on low incomes but the tariff for these meters are up to 45% higher than those who are more able to pay. A spokesperson for E.ON said in reply to criticism that prepayment meters are more expensive and it is therefore not fair to compare them with payments online.
It is expected that the Chancellor will attempt in his budget to “shame” companies into addressing the issue and proposals have been considered for vouchers for cheap energy being made available to those on low incomes. Already the Government give a winter heating allowance of £200 for the over 60s and £300 for the over 80s.
