Energy news in general

The_Green_Hornet

Ofgem approves early investment in three UK electricity ‘superhighways’

Green light intended to limit amount consumers pay for windfarms to turn off during periods of high generation

Three major UK electricity “superhighways” could move ahead sooner than expected to help limit the amount that households pay for windfarms to turn off during periods of high power generation.

Current grid bottlenecks mean there is not enough capacity to transport the abundance of electricity generated in periods of strong winds to areas where energy demand is highest.

The new high-voltage cable projects linking windfarms in Scotland and off the North Sea coast to densely populated areas in the south of the country could start operations by the early 2030s rather than towards the end of the decade, according to the sector regulator.

Ofgem approves early investment in three UK electricity ‘superhighways’ | Energy industry | The Guardian

Scot_39

More £bns - because they put 10s GW of renewables in Scotland - literally 100s of miles from not only in many cases majority of the Scottish popn in central belt - but 100s of miles more - from the intended market for such power in England - if not beyond.

And the first time Ive seen mention of that version - £12bn network costs - but remember the 2030 £8bn is contingent on EGL1 and 2 coming in on time in 2029.

After all someone has to pay - the last of the 2 current EGLs price escalated to c£4bn - these maybe even more - when finally approved last year.

And the cherry on cake for us - particularly of course those already reliant on electricity for heating so higher users - consumers

"Fast-tracking the projects is expected to bring forward higher costs on consumer energy bills to pay for the work"

Giving further evidence that the £300 green bonus - another blatantly misleading (greenwashing type) promise.

Lorian

Offgem proposal to turn smart meters into prepayment meters when people move house, giving limited credit before account is set up.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/call-for-input/tackling-energy-debt-when-moving-home

QrizB

Lorian said:

Offgem proposal to turn smart meters into prepayment meters when people move house, giving limited credit before account is set up.
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/call-for-input/tackling-energy-debt-when-moving-home

Thanks for linking to the offical Ofgem info rather than a news article

Robin9

Just wondering - how does a supplier know when somebody has moved out and somebody else moved in if the person moving out hasn't told them.

Lorian

I think this proposal could impact quite a lot of the suprise debts we see here due to a lack of knowledge around deemed contracts.

Scot_39

Robin9 said:

Just wondering - how does a supplier know when somebody has moved out and somebody else moved in if the person moving out hasn't told them.

Because the person moving in has.

By if not told - tracking down their deemed day 1 (incumbent/standing) supplier for the property.

And contacted them and told them they have moved in - providing the date they became responsible for the bills -  and of course day 1 meter readings for that day - e.g. at start of tenancy contract - if choose not to move in the same day etc.

Everything else before that reading and that date - the old occupants (or the landlord if a void period) are still legally responsible for.  

Failing to inform and leave a forwarding address - doesn't get old occupants out of paying - it just means suppliers or their appointed debt agencies - have to track them down - and they do - even for small amounts - even in some cases overseas / EU.

The normal procedure - to protect both parties - at each swap in responsibility - in more detail

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/moving-home-your-energy-supply/moving-home-dealing-with-your-energy-supply/

MattMattMattUK

In terms of what the people refusing to pay their energy bills costs the rest of us this absolutely makes sense, but we also need a system that allows properties to be disconnected much quicker (similar to most of Europe, do not pay one bill and after 14 days you will be disconnected), as well as much stricter criteria for those wishing to move from pre-payment to credit. Or we just get rid of credit billing entirely and save those of us who actually pay our bills around £1.4 billion per year/£48 per household. 

Scot_39

The new merged Debt Related Cost was estimated at £50 in the footnotes of the July 2025 cap letter.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-05/Summary of changes to energy price cap 1 July to 30 September 2025_0.pdf

"...the introduction of a new Debt Related Cost Allowance (DRC) (£50)....."

And with changes to prepay enforced fitting for those abusing the system in "soft touch" Britain -  making the debt situation arguably even more endemic.

At the same time the old special debt related cost "additional allowance" - the at tge end £28 on DD cap - supposedly temporary when introduced - removed from the system and so the Ofgem letter cap breakdown - where we could see it clearly every quarter.

Debts / arrears have continued to grow over the last year of Ofgem figures.

With suplliers hands tied by even tougher rules on enforcing prepay on those racking up £100s and £1000s in debt.  The average for those in arrears - with no debt repayment plan in place c£1750 for electricity and c£1500 for gas.  You probably cannot just add for duel fuel homes - but theres likely to be overlap ?

You might argue suppliers not controlling it quickly enough -  but again they have guidelines to follow - and risk the backlash of the liberal elites and charity lobby. 

As to cut offs you mention - used to be in their hundreds just over a decade ago - into 1000s in late 2000s undef New Lab, dropping dramatically in 2010s under Cons Lib - and to virtually zero if not zero in recent years. Perhaps banned during Covid.  But although homes in arrears have more tha  doubled - that was still a tiny fraction of the home in debt and or 91+ day arrears even then.  Although the Ofgem chars for tgat do not cover 2006/7 peak cut offs.  A sanction  only for the very worst offenders. 

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/data/debt-and-arrears-indicators

Not paying for energy is not a victimless crime. The rest are expected to pay - and so it impacts the law abiding poor more.

And there is now yet another Ofgem proposal - the Debt Relief Scheme - to add an additional c£5 to bills to write off another £500m of the debt. 
Debt that in last year has grown to £4.48bn on Ofgem charts for domestic alone - debt in repayment and 91 day plus arrears combined - the page above last updated in June. That total up c£750m - 20% in a year.  So even if DRS implemented - it wouldn't cover last years growth.
Needless to say the industry wants that scheme expanded - which of course means it might be costing us a lot more than £5 extra on top of the current £50 DRC. 

silverwhistle

Scot_39 said:

The new merged Debt Related Cost was estimated at £50 in the footnotes of the July 2025 cap letter.

/SNIP/

Now I'm confused: further up thread you were blaming energy costs on renewables. Nothing to do with the cost of fossil fuels after the Russian invasion of Ukraine then?

I've just been updating a spreadsheet for my electricity costs and in the last 16 months there have only been two months when my average cost has been over 15p a unit: once at 15.04p and the other at 21.85p during the January dunkelflaute. The rest of the time much lower including 5 months with single digit figures, and no I haven't got a battery..

My SSE shares are doing very very well, particularly on the back of the recent news of major investments in renewables including the means to bring it to market. 

If you are so convinced that fossil fuels are the answer can I suggest you put your money into US fracking and LNG plant, and come back in ten years to let us know how it went.

To others you'll just have to weigh up and assess Scot_39 's enthusiasm for fossil fuels and make up your own minds. Here in my ex-council terrace I'm obviously a member of the liberal elite so bear that in mind too...