March 2009 news archive
Energy efficiency should be top priority
The Environmental Audit Committee has welcomed the UK government's £535 million green stimulus plan, but claimed it is not enough to transform the UK's economy into a low-carbon one.
CHP to improve energy efficiency
Ceres Power has announced it is set to build a new factory to manufacture low carbon energy systems for UK customers of British Gas and Calor Gas.
Residents to cut electricity costs with energy monitors
Consumers in Calderdale are being offered the chance to monitor the amount of electricity they consume in a hope that they can cut the cost of their bills.
Environ teams up with Carbon Trust
Energy assessment firm Environ has been accredited by the Carbon Trust.
Renewables in jeopardy
A cap on returns from energy investment is making Scottish Power's owner Iberdrola reluctant to invest in the UK energy infrastructure.
Ofgem bans 'unjustified energy pricing'
Consumers across the UK could be set to benefit from new regulations introduced by Ofgem to ban "unjustified" pricing of gas and electricity.
Cheap energy tariffs with new green proposals
Consumers could benefit from cheaper energy tariffs if new proposals to promote the use of renewable energy are adopted.
Increased competition could result in cheap energy
The European Union has reached a deal which will result in further liberalisation of the continent's energy markets.
Direct debit electricity and gas customers 'owed hundreds'
Many consumers are in credit with their electricity and gas bills and are owed money by their suppliers, it has been claimed.
Wallace & Gromit: Switch electricity tariff
British electricity customers will be tempted to switch their tariff to a contract with npower by Wallace & Gromit.
Falling gas prices 'just around the corner'
Gas prices for consumers are expected to fall in the coming months despite the devaluation of the pound.
Business electricity bills are high due to wastage
UK businesses are paying £300 million extra for their electricity each year as idle computers waste energy.
Consumer Focus: 'Ofgem proposals step in the right direction'
Consumer Focus claims new Ofgem regulations are a positive step for the energy market.
Switching can cut energy costs and may avert fuel poverty
Many people may choose to use online comparison sites to change their electricity and gas tariffs following the failure of the fuel poverty bill to pass through parliament.
Shopping around is best way to get cheap electricity and gas
Shopping around is the best way to get cheaper electricity and gas, it has been claimed.
Opus Energy supplies Halfords with business electricity
Independent business electricity supplier Opus Energy has struck a deal with Halfords – bring the total number of business sites it provides electricity to up to 50,000.
Adding an extra hour would slash electricity prices
The clocks will go forward an hour this weekend as the UK changes back to British Summer Time.
Electricity and gas prices sustain energy suppliers
The energy sector appears to be performing well despite the recession and ongoing global economic downturn.
Pre-payment customers have higher electricity prices
Energy customers on pre-payment tariffs have higher energy bills, it has been claimed.
Energy saving drive gets widespread support
The World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) Earth Hour received widespread support over the weekend as many of the UK's most famous landmarks were plunged into darkness.
Energy prices to rise?
The cost of living is expected to rise during the next 12 months, it has been claimed.
Nuclear energy firm sale will 'improve value for money'
The sale of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) will increase efficiency, competition and value for money for British taxpayers, it has been claimed.
Lower energy prices with liberalisation
Liberalisation of the European energy markets is being pursued by EU officials in an attempt to drive down prices.
Cheap energy tariff launched by E.ON
E.ON has launched what it claims is the cheapest energy tariff on the market.
High energy prices 'must be tackled'
Scandalous fuel poverty levels in the UK must be tackled with grass-roots energy efficiency initiatives it has been claimed.
Compensation for ScottishPower customers
ScottishPower has announced that it will pay interest to its direct debit customers who are in credit.
Energy body welcomes Brown's comments
Comments made by the prime minister regarding the positive effects renewable energy could have on the UK have been welcomed by a leading group.
Wind turbine generates £50k for Scottish village
A wind turbine which generates between £50,000 and £100,000 a year could help the Scottish village of Fintry become the greenest in the country, it has been claimed.
Renewable energy sector lobbies for subsidies
The wind power sector is reportedly lobbying the Treasury for increased financial support to be included in next month's budget.
Supermarkets to generate energy from waste
Two of the UK's biggest retailers are set to increase the amount of waste food they supply to energy-from-waste plants.
Domestic energy efficiency could cut costs
Investing in domestic energy efficiency measures could be used alongside comparing electricity and gas prices online, it has been claimed.
Britain to get £1.5bn for renewable energy projects
The UK is preparing to receive almost £1.5 billion from the European Union to invest in clean energy projects, following an announcement by the EU Commission.
Calls for reduction in renewable energy schemes
Two energy giants who are in favour of increasing Britain's nuclear capacity have called on the government to reduce the number of renewable energy projects it develops.
Government halts solar energy programme
A government programme to encourage the installation of renewable solar technology on public buildings by offering grants has been halted.
UK carbon targets 'are not enough'
The British government's carbon emissions targets do not go far enough to prevent dangerous climate change, it has been claimed.
Biomass plans rejected in Wales
Wood burning power stations proposed in Swansea and Kidwelly have been rejected following planning meetings.
Sahara solar could provide Europe with electricity
Solar panels in the Sahara Desert could satisfy all of Europe's energy needs, it has been claimed.
Sundog to promote solar energy
Cumbrian firm Sundog Energy has joined forces with Good Energy to promote the benefits of solar panels to residential energy customers.
EC calls for energy efficient IT
The European Commission (EC) has called on businesses to use information and communication technology (ICT) to improve energy efficiency.
'Game over without carbon capture'
E.ON chief executive Paul Golby has warned the government that failing to develop carbon capture technology could prevent it from reaching its carbon emissions target.
Npower cuts electricity prices
Npower has announced that it is to cut 7.2 per cent off its electricity prices, but has been derided for doing too little too late by industry experts.
Winter energy bills forcing cutbacks
Consumers are cutting back on essentials such as food in order to afford their winter energy bills, it has been claimed.
Carlisle gets first green estate
The UK's first green housing estate is set to be built on land at Carlisle Racecourse, it has been reported.
Switchers end up paying more
Ofgem has to decided bring more clarity to energy tariffs as many switching customers end up paying more.
More investment in renewables is required
The government must draw up ambitious plans if it is to provide 15 per cent of the country's power from renewable sources by 2020, it has been claimed.
New Ofgem rules benefit consumers
New Ofgem rules "pack a punch for customers", the regulator claims.
Landfill site to generate electricity
A landfill site in County Durham is set to power up to 4,000 homes as waste gas is turned into renewable electricity.
Consumers' wallets will be hit be renewable electricity
Consumers can expect higher electricity prices in the future as a result of the huge investment in renewable energy generation, it has been claimed.
Scottish Power cuts gas and electricity prices
Scottish Power is set to cut its standard gas and electricity prices on March 31st.
Energy firms bid for wind energy development
Four international energy firms have joined forces to win exclusive rights to develop windfarms at the Crown Estate.
Profit from energy is £100 per customer
The profit margin for gas and electricity suppliers amounts to £100 per customer per year, it has been claimed.
Businesses suffering from energy price increases
Small and medium-sized businesses in the UK are suffering from the financial pressure of rising energy costs, it has been claimed.
Falling electricity demand hits Drax
The falling demand for electricity in the UK has created a profit shortfall at Drax.
Green Lane energy saving is praised
Green Lane in Cookridge, Leeds, has been named as one of the most environmentally-friendly roads in the UK.
Gaelectric investigates compressed air energy storage
Irish wind energy specialist Gaelectric is set to investigate the feasibility of a compressed air energy storage plant (CAES).
Ebico cuts energy prices
The UK's only not-for-profit electricity and gas supplier has announced it is cutting its energy bills.
Another consortium bids for green energy rights
A second energy consortium has been created to bid for sole rights to exploit the renewable energy potential of the Crown Estate.
Energy efficient business to sell first vegetables
Vegetables grown at the UK's biggest greenhouse have gone on sale.
Ecotricity spends heavily on renewable
Green energy firm Ecotricity claims it spends a higher percentage of its revenue on green energy initiatives than any other firm in the UK.
Buckingham Palace is 'least energy efficient home'
Buckingham Palace has been dubbed the UK's least energy efficient home by a group of energy surveyors.
Renewable energy sector call for £625 million
Leaders of the renewable energy industry are calling on the government to spend the £625 million it has pledged immediately.
Cost of upgrading electricity network: £5bn
Upgrading Britain's aging national power grid by the year 2020 would cost in the region of £5 billion, it has been claimed.
Energy efficient light bulbs discussed in parliament
The latest developments in energy efficient lighting have been discussed in the House of Commons.
Conservatives would 'overhaul energy efficiency rules'
The Conservative Party's shadow minister for climate change and environment Gregory Barker has hinted that domestic energy efficiency rules could be rolled out to include businesses.
Joint hydro-electric venture announced
British Waterways has joined forces with the Small Hydro Company in a bid to increase hydro-electric output by 210,000MWhours.
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