Big 6 fracking policy

benj111

So as fracking has started last week in Lancashire I thought I would do some research on the big 6's policies.
None of them seemed to have anything on their websites so I had to email them.
All were contacted on the 15th and 16th of October, (so well over a week ago).

EDF:
Doesn't seem to have an email address?! so a facebooked them.
Their response (received within 24 hours)

"Hi Benj111, thank you for reaching out to EDF regarding our fracking policy. EDF Energy is not involved in or investing in fracking. However, we do watch the latest developments with interest because of its potential impact on wholesale electricity prices. I hope this answers your query. Thanks EDF."

I did respond with:

"thanks for your reply. just to confirm " not involved in or investing in fracking" includes not buying?"

But after over a week, still havent received a reply, so make of that what you will.

British gas (within 48 hours)

Dear Benj111

Thank you for your email about the fracking.


Gas remains an important part of our strategy because it is one of the
most affordable energy sources for heating homes and running
businesses, is the lowest carbon fossil fuel and backs-up intermittent
renewable energy.

We continue to be a sizeable producer of gas and oil, although we are
reducing the scale of our oil and gas Exploration & Production (E&P)
business in favour of our customer-facing activities.

Concerns about energy security are less prevalent in North America,
where vast domestic energy reserves can be drawn on following its
revolution in the extraction of natural gas from shale.

The UK, on the other hand, is a net importer of gas and reliance on
imports is increasing. To meet this challenge we continue to explore
the potential of natural gas from shale through our 25% stake in the
Bowland exploration licence operated by Cuadrilla Resources.

You can visit this website for the more details about fracking.

Please contact us should you need any help in the future and thank you
for contacting British Gas.

Kind regards

Yup 25% of the well the Cuadrilla is drilling belongs to British Gas.

Eon.
After over a week (this morning) I got this

Hi Benj111,

Thanks for your email, I hope you're well.

If possible, please try and contact our head office for information on our fracking policy.

Kind Regards

I have replied asking for some contact details for their head office.

Scottish power:
The person on live chat didn't even know what fracking was?!
I asked them for an email address to someone in the uk. I am still awaiting a reply.

SSE:
Sent me an automated reply on 16/10/18 saying I would get a reply within 6 days. It's been more than 6 days and I'm still waiting.

Npower:
Sent me an automated reply on 16/10/18 saying I would get a reply within 7 days. It's been more than 7 days and I'm still waiting.


So in conclusion EDF seems? to be frack free, British gas is actively investing in it, and the other 4 couldn't even be bothered to reply.

As an aside, all of the companies were a pain to try an contact. EON was the only one where I actually managed to find a 'contact us' link at the bottom of the page that then gave an an email address (although still doesn't get a pass as it took them over a week to not answer my question).

All others I had to go hunting/via live chat. Although maximum minus points to EDF, no email address even after asking via live chat.

antrobus

benj111 wrote: »

So as fracking has started last week in Lancashire I thought I would do some research on the big 6's policies.
None of them seemed to have anything on their websites so I had to email them....

You need to understand how the energy market works. The 'Big Six' are utilities, they supply gas and electricity, but they don't generate either. So none of them will have any direct involvement in fracking at all.

benj111 wrote: »

...
British gas (within 48 hours)
Yup 25% of the well the Cuadrilla is drilling belongs to British Gas..

Nope. British Gas is owned by Centrica. Centrica bought 25% of Cuadrilla Resources.

https://cuadrillaresources.com/media-resources/press-releases/cuadrilla-welcomes-centrica-as-new-investment-partner-in-lancashire/

If and when Cuadrilla ever produces some gas it will be sold on the UK gas market. and any utility, I think there are about 70 or more domestic suppliers, will be able to buy it. But since neither Cuadrilla or anyone else has actually produced any gas I'm not sure why you are asking the question.

badmemory

antrobus wrote: »

But since neither Cuadrilla or anyone else has actually produced any gas I'm not sure why you are asking the question.

At least they managed to produce a small earthquake - not bad for the first week!

unforeseen

You do realise that fracking has been going on in this country for years? Just not for shale gas.

unforeseen

badmemory wrote: »

At least they managed to produce a small earthquake - not bad for the first week!

Since the UK gets an average of 15 quakes of that magnitude in a year then nothing out of the ordinary.
Those quakes were already poised to happen. The water just oiled the small fault line and brought forward its occurrence.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

benj111 wrote: »

So as fracking has started last week in Lancashire I thought I would do some research on the big 6's policies.
None of them seemed to have anything on their websites so I had to email them.
All were contacted on the 15th and 16th of October, (so well over a week ago).

EDF:
Doesn't seem to have an email address?! so a facebooked them.
Their response (received within 24 hours)I did respond with:
But after over a week, still havent received a reply, so make of that what you will.

British gas (within 48 hours)
Yup 25% of the well the Cuadrilla is drilling belongs to British Gas.

Eon.
After over a week (this morning) I got this
I have replied asking for some contact details for their head office.

Scottish power:
The person on live chat didn't even know what fracking was?!
I asked them for an email address to someone in the uk. I am still awaiting a reply.

SSE:
Sent me an automated reply on 16/10/18 saying I would get a reply within 6 days. It's been more than 6 days and I'm still waiting.

Npower:
Sent me an automated reply on 16/10/18 saying I would get a reply within 7 days. It's been more than 7 days and I'm still waiting.


So in conclusion EDF seems? to be frack free, British gas is actively investing in it, and the other 4 couldn't even be bothered to reply.

As an aside, all of the companies were a pain to try an contact. EON was the only one where I actually managed to find a 'contact us' link at the bottom of the page that then gave an an email address (although still doesn't get a pass as it took them over a week to not answer my question).

All others I had to go hunting/via live chat. Although maximum minus points to EDF, no email address even after asking via live chat.

Hello benj111 and sorry it took so long to reply to your email. We know our response times through all channels aren't good enough and are working to improve.

As antrobus says, we're involved with the supply and billing of energy. Generation is separate from these activities and this is why our advisor suggested you contact our head office. This is at our Westwood site in Coventry. Sorry, too, they didn't tell you how to do this. Their contact details are on our website under About E.ON/Our Company/Where We Operate (MSE don't allow company reps to post links).

Our Media Centre would be another option. Again, contact details are on the About E.ON section of our website.

We use a varied mix of fuel sources. These include gas, nuclear and renewables like solar, wind and biomass. We publish details of this mix on our website. The latest information covers the period between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018.

Sorry again for the delay benj111.

Malc

twhitehousescat

unforeseen wrote: »

Since the UK gets an average of 15 quakes of that magnitude in a year then nothing out of the ordinary.
Those quakes were already poised to happen. The water just oiled the small fault line and brought forward its occurrence.

and over a third of those have happened in less than 7 days at one location

https://www.lep.co.uk/news/environment/five-more-earthquakes-recorded-in-blackpool-taking-number-since-fracking-started-to-11-1-9413065

EDIT:

its actually ELEVEN in the one location

C_Mababejive

I have passed the Preston New Rd site a few times.

I have not done a great deal of research into fracking but from what i know, i have my reservations.

Aside from that i do think there is a lot of hypocrisy. A lot of the protests are fermented by nimbys. Further this summer i was up that way and i saw a number of younger people, maybe in their teens/early twenties,making their way off the protest site with their rucksacks. I speculated to myself that they were probably on their way back home to ruralshire and their middle class parents' come where they live.

You see we all use energy. Many of us waste it. The demand for energy is ever increasing but the carbon based sources are finite. Most take it all for granted. They have no idea of the infrastructure beneath our feet, in the air, on pylons, installations buried deep in the countryside, etc

Most of the natural gas in his country comes via subsea pipelines from mainland Europe. We receive regular shipments of liquified gas from the middle eased which is offloaded at shore terminals.

It all costs a hell of a lot of money,investment and future planned debt.

Something has got to give.

My best advice to everyone is to use all forms of energy sparingly and responsibly for your sake,your childrens sake and the environments sake.

EachPenny

C_Mababejive wrote: »

...You see we all use energy. Many of us waste it. The demand for energy is ever increasing but the carbon based sources are finite. Most take it all for granted. They have no idea of the infrastructure beneath our feet, in the air, on pylons, installations buried deep in the countryside, etc

Most of the natural gas in his country comes via subsea pipelines from mainland Europe. We receive regular shipments of liquified gas from the middle eased which is offloaded at shore terminals.

I was thinking along similar lines and that this thread possibly needed some balancing views.

I also have some reservations about fracking, but given that the alternative at the moment appears to be making ourselves almost totally reliant on potentially unstable and morally questionable regimes, I'm willing to accept the need to explore the potential fracking has, along with gaining a better understanding of the negatives involved.

Obviously Norway doesn't have a questionable regime, but Norway alone cannot supply the demands of Europe if the political nose-holding being done to retain other supplies becomes too much for the people of Europe to bear.

Andy_WSM

Fracking has been paused this afternoon at Preston after siesmic activity was detected triggering their "red" warning, which means they must pause and monitor for further movement.


https://www.lep.co.uk/news/environment/fracking-stopped-at-preston-new-road-after-red-event-earthquake-1-9415717



Maybe that they are being over cautious right now, but better safe than sorry.