February 2009 news archive
Centrica chief warns of future energy price hikes
Power companies are shelving investment plans, meaning the UK faces higher electricity and gas bills in the coming three years, it has been claimed.
Energy-saving products 'could save billions of pounds'
Billions of pounds could be saved on electricity and gas bills if people bought energy-saving products, according to one expert.
npower expands electrical services arm
npower has expanded its electrical services division with the purchase of SPI Group.
MP demands government action on energy prices
Labour MP Gisele Stuart is calling on government to look into claims of energy companies ripping off prepayment meter customers.
Ofgem issues green energy guidelines
Energy regulator Ofgem has issued green energy guidelines after claims that some suppliers were misleading customers about their green credentials.
Electric and gas firm Npower to build power station
Electric and gas firm RWE Npower has been given the go-ahead to build a gas-fired power station in Wales.
Electric and gas supplier National Grid bans overtime
Control room staff at the National Grid will start an overtime ban this week as a result of pay discrepancies.
EU to investigate high electricity prices
The European Union is set to start an investigation into electricity prices following a rise in the number of complaints.
Britain face 'biggest rises in energy prices'
Britain has witnessed the biggest rise in energy prices in Western Europe in the past year, it has been claimed.
Energy prices should fall by 10%
Irish energy minister Eamon Ryan has said that he expects energy prices to fall by at least ten per cent in the coming year.
Energy firms face grilling on electric and gas prices
The UK's big six energy firms are set to face a select committee of MPs, which will question their pricing decisions.
RIBA signs up with renewable energy broker
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has signed up with a green energy supplier.
SSE to cut UK electricity and gas prices
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) announced it is cutting average electricity prices for its nine million domestic customers.
E.ON to test wave energy technology in Scotland
A leading energy company is set to trial new technology which aims find a new form of generating electricity.
Energy saving makeover for 25% of UK homes
Millions of UK homes could be set to receive an eco-makeover as part of new government plans, it has been revealed.
'Green oil' energy trial in the UK
Trials involving the use of vegetable oil as a source of energy are underway, it has been revealed.
Chicken waste electricity plant protest
A county councillor has voiced concerns over the impact of a chicken waste processing facility near a nature reserve in Anglesey, it has been reported.
'Electricity and gas supplier in takeover talks'
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) is rumoured to be in takeover talks with state-owned Swedish energy provider Vattenfall.
Electricity prices will not be drop significantly'
Electricity prices will not be significantly lower in the foreseeable future because of the need to invest heavily in power infrastructure, it has been claimed.
Wallace and Gromit in Npower energy efficiency drive
Npower has enlisted Wallace and Gromit to front an advertising campaign to promote energy efficiency in the national press.
Energy saving makeover for British homes
Every home in Britain will have a green energy makeover by 2030 under new government plans aimed at cutting carbon emissions and reducing energy bills.
Cameron backs energy bill campaign
Conservative Party leader David Cameron has backed an energy price campaign by the Nottingham Evening Post.
Nuclear energy is good for Scotland
Nuclear energy would be good for Scotland and would help to promote energy security and tackle climate change, it has been claimed.
Shock at £14,000 electricity bill
An energy customer on the Isle of Man was shocked when he received an electricity bill for £14,000, it has been reported.
Energy suppliers move to lower gas and electricity prices
Senior executives at three of the UK's largest energy firms have said they will move to lower gas and electricity prices for their customers soon.
Credit crunch causes consumers to cut energy consumption
Consumers are starting to live greener lives as they attempt to reduce their gas and electricity bills, it has been claimed.
Nuclear Power is vital for green energy targets
Scotland must safeguard the future of its electricity supply with investment in nuclear energy.
E.ON appeals renewable energy decision
E.ON announced today it will appeal the decision by East Riding Council to stop the firm's proposed Tedder Hill wind farm near Roos in Yorkshire.
Lib Dems launch energy saving policy
The Liberal Democrat party has pledged to revamp the entire British housing stock in ten years.
E.ON slashes electricity prices
E.ON has announced it is lowering electricity prices for the majority of its customers by nine per cent.
M&S and npower sign renewable energy deal
Marks & Spencer (M&S) and npower have signed the second biggest renewable energy contract in the UK's retail sector.
E.ON 'will not review gas and electric contracts'
E.ON has announced it will not renew gas and electric contracts with companies operating on more than 50 sites using its non-half hourly electricity metres and non-daily gas metres.
EDF to cut electricity prices
EDF Energy has announced it will cut its UK electricity prices in March by an average of 8.8 per cent.
UK demand for gas falls
Demand for gas in the UK fell by four per cent this winter when compared with last year's figures, it has been claimed.
Wind farms 'could provide electricity for 3m'
More than three million homes could benefit from electricity generated from wind farms following a decision to open the Scottish Crown Estate to development.
Gas prices continue their decline
British gas prices have continued their fall as warmer weather reduces demand.
Rising gas and electric prices 'promotes recycling'
Rising energy prices in the UK have caused many organisations to look at more efficient and cost-effective ways of generating and procuring energy.
'Electricity price shock for pre-pay customers'
Thousands of electricity customers could be in for a shock because energy companies have not updated their pre-payment meters, it has been claimed.
Solar panels reduce village hall's electricity prices
A village hall in Elmley Castle near Tewksbury has installed solar panels in a move it hopes will reduce its electricity bills.
Chemical manufacturer generates renewable electricity
A chemical manufacturer in the UK has supplemented its electricity supply by installing a wind turbine on top of its headquarters.
National Grid to look into transmission costs
National Grid has announced it will open an investigation into power transmission in the UK.
British Gas 'shields customers from high gas prices'
Centrica has announced that profits at its British Gas residential arm were lower than last year's because the company had shielded its customers from the full increase in the cost of wholesale gas.
Gas prices have increased by 50%
Gas prices have increased by more than half over the last 12 months, it has been claimed.
Electricity supplier to safeguard jobs
Electricity supplier Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) is investing £3 billion in Scotland over the course of the next three years.
Gas prices pushed up by penalty fees
More than quarter of a million families have been forced to install pre-pay meters after falling behind with their monthly energy bills, it has been claimed.
Nuclear electricity 'should be abandoned'
Nuclear power should be abandoned in favour of focusing on renewable energy, it has been claimed.
Centrica pressured to drop nuclear electricity deal
Centrica has come under increasing pressure to drop its plan to buy a 25 per cent stake in British Energy.
Scotland demands fair electricity charges
The Scottish National Party's Westminster energy spokesperson Mike Weir has called on the government to bring an end to discriminatory National Grid transmission charges.
Energy prices 'don't compensate last year's hikes'
The recent reduction in energy prices by major players in the British electricity and gas markets are "too little, too late", it has been claimed.
Britain needs 'more gas storage'
The UK will need to create more natural gas storage facilities if it is to safeguard its future energy security, it has been claimed.
Centrica seeks renewable energy loan
The UK's biggest energy supplier is seeking a £450 million loan to finance three of its UK windfarms.
Energy efficiency 'will push electricity prices down'
Energy efficiency is key to reducing long-term electricity and gas price increases, it has been claimed.
Microgeneration could reduce energy prices
The widespread use of small wind turbines could reduce the cost of electricity for households and stimulate the economy with increased exports, it has been claimed.
UK needs £234bn to hit energy targets
Britain will need to invest £234 billion in new energy infrastructure if it is to meet its renewable energy targets, it has been claimed.
Energy prices changed by British Gas
British Gas has introduced a new tariff to replace its current WebSaver deal – which offered customers a ten per cent reduction in energy prices.
Centrica to create green energy jobs
British Gas owner Centrica has claimed it will create 1,500 green-collar jobs over the next year.
Supply uncertainty could 'push up energy prices'
Gas supply uncertainty could push up domestic bills in the long-term, it has been claimed.
Energy price cuts a 'slap in the face'
Industry watchdog Consumer Focus has called the recent energy price reductions at British Gas a "slap in the face" for consumers.
Majority of households consider solar energy
The majority of homes in the UK would consider adopting solar power technology, it has been claimed.
Energy wasting businesses 'should be tackled'
UK businesses with inefficient commercial properties should be tackled by the government, it has been claimed.
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