Miatta Fahnbulleh, the new UK Energy Secretary, faces urgent decisions on gas supply, including approving new fields and a £2bn expansion for Centrica's Rough storage facility, crucial for avoiding a 2030 crisis.
The National Energy System Operator (Neso) faces accusations of a cover-up regarding power system strain during summer heatwaves. Whistleblowers allege managers ordered staff to forgo note-keeping and pressured operators to protect Neso's reputation, prompting an independent investigation.
UK's likely next Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, faces a critical decision on expanding North Sea oil drilling or focusing on renewables, amidst a global energy crisis exacerbated by the Iran war and Russia's conflict in Ukraine. Business leaders and some unions back drilling for energy security and jobs, while others advocate for clean energy. Key fields like Rosebank and Jackdaw are central to the debate.
Energy bills in Great Britain are set to increase by over £220 annually under the new price cap, pushing millions more households into fuel poverty. The End Fuel Poverty Coalition warns that 5.5 million homes will spend 20% of their income on energy.
Customer debt to energy suppliers in England, Wales, and Scotland has hit a new record of £4.79 billion, a 15% increase year-on-year, according to regulator Ofgem. Average arrears for those without repayment plans are significantly higher, as energy prices are set to rise again in July.
The UK's energy price cap will increase by 13% to £1,862/year from July to September, driven by soaring global energy prices amid the war in Iran, affecting average households with a £221 annual rise.
Chris Huhne responds to Nils Pratley's article on UK gas policy, arguing that biomethane represents a third overlooked option between expanding North Sea drilling and increasing LNG imports. He highlights that biomethane is domestic, low carbon, storable and dispatchable, citing the IEA's 2025 Renewables report and examples from Denmark (meeting 40% of gas demand from green gas) and France (20%+ annual growth since 2022). The letter argues the UK lacks political will to scale these alternatives.
The UK government's plan to de-link gas and electricity prices is a heavily diluted version of the more radical 'pot zero' proposal and will likely deliver only modest savings for consumers. While older wind and solar farms under the renewables obligation scheme receive around £200/MW/h compared to £91 for new projects, the reform only swaps the wholesale element to fixed-price contracts, not the legacy subsidy portion. Energy secretary Ed Miliband offered no bill reduction forecast, with savings dependent on take-up and likely to be modest under normal conditions.
