Energy news in general

spot1034

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82050575#Comment_82050575

The Radio 4 long wave output ceased at 0100 on Saturday. However the three transmitters are still on air broadcasting a retune announcement. This is expected to end some time tomorrow, at which point it's expected that the transmitters will be switched off.

Except - there has been a rumour circulating today that the Westerglen transmitter in central Scotland might be kept on for longer. This would definitely be at the request of the electricity industry, as they have reportedly been paying the bills to keep long wave on air for some time now. The BBC would otherwise have closed the service much sooner.

It is only a rumour, reported in the 'radio and podcasts' forum of Digital Spy (the thread title is 'The AM death watch thread…' if you wish to follow it). Warning..it's a very anoraky discussion, although I suppose no more so than the sort of thing you sometimes see here!

WiserMiser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82050575#Comment_82050575

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82050575#Comment_82050575

>'I rather thought it was the 500kW 198kHz transmitter itself that was
switched off, before one of its two mammoth valves gave up the ghost.
This is the frequency RTS systems listen on, so now they have nothing to act on.'

The RTS units are still listening and receiving because, as I said, the Droitwich 198kHz transmitter is still on the air loud and clear. But instead of being sent the R4 audio programme feed, it's being sent the barker loop instead.

Note that there is no 'RTS transmitter' per se, the RTS signal just wobbles the 198kHz carrier around a bit. Think of it as Vibrato for Valves…

Ildhund

All a bit academic now. The barker has been silenced and there's not even a carrier (that I can detect) left on 198kHz after noon today: Vocaroo | Online voice recorder

debitcardmayhem

Just reading this https://www.ajbell.co.uk/news/articles/uk-mps-back-measures-weaken-link-between-gas-and-electricity-prices

Edit: a bit light on detail though ……

Chrysalis

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82055868#Comment_82055868

Looks like a completely misleading headline, the story states a increase of a levy, which might be able to fund relief schemes, thats not really what the headline states.

Ildhund

@Chrysalis wrote:

Looks like a completely misleading headline, …

Perhaps. If you read the background to it, the connection becomes clear:

The government has reviewed the design of the EGL in light of the conflict in the Middle East and is announcing today that the 45% EGL rate will increase to 55% and will be extended past its scheduled conclusion in 2028. This will support the government’s objective of reducing the impact of gas prices on businesses and households. Firstly, it will encourage participation at a competitive price in wholesale Contracts for Difference, a new proposal announced today by the Secretary of State for DESNZ, which seeks to weaken the link between high gas prices and high electricity generation prices …

Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

Scot_39

Anyone reading that headline might have been thinking that was breaking the "highest bid wins" (a very crude and cynical take on a complex system used not only in UK but elsewhere to set wholesale whole market pricing for generation to grid) - but yes its very much the change to the old Cons EGL that became active from 2023.

And the hypocrisy - given that it applies to old clean renewables - at a threshold lower than the Ar7 auction price - certainly for Offshore wind - shows the complete disconnect in govt thinking on green energy costs.

Old renewables at £75 bad (Ok - indexed in 2024 to ? to compare with) - new AR7 renewables at £92 good - indexed from a new 2024 base.

And remember the EGL was needed - and applied retrospectively - after months of failure by the last govt - under at least 2 PMs - to negotiate old supply contracts onto constrained deals - possibly similar in intent if not exactly as CfD.

But like other recent desicions - it's likely that the DESNZ is too scared to go after renewables and other green generators aggressively - in order to prevent it failing on 95% by 2030 target and beyond.

michaels

If you cap their prices you effectively down value the assets arbitrarily which is effectively theft from existing shareholders and is really likely to bring forward investment in UK generation capacity not.

So instead the UK govt is locking in fixed long term contracts at today's inflated prices when the peak surges may well fall in the medium term with more interconnectors, more battery storage for peaking and lower has prices.

Of course the market players will get the better side of the deal than customers who have the govt negotiating on their behalf.

'Lucky' it is (just) complicated enough that the govt will be able to spin it as a win and no journalists are smart enough to call it out for what it is.

Ask Google AI to explain it to you if you are still naive enough to believe the gas marginal cost pricing story.

Chrysalis

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82056009#Comment_82056009

I still read it the same as before, the intention of a "indirect" impact from rising gas prices via levy and subsidy, there is nothing in your quote about unlinking the cost of electric from the highest cost of generation.

Chrysalis

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82056740#Comment_82056740

I dont consider that theft, anyone doing business in a country should know, any regulation change risks the value of their assets, its life. If there is an expectation a government protects them, then thats unreasonable entitlement.
However I do agree it would deter future investment, although really we dont want future shareholder investment, it just creates the same issues, the country is slave to shareholders, what we want is state investment.