Energy prices 'may be pushed up by climate change targets'
Published on : 02/12/2008
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The UK's chief climate change adviser has warned that households could see big energy bill rises.
Adair Turner, chairman of the committee on climate change, has told Reuters that plans to reduce the role of fossil fuels in energy production and cut greenhouse gas emissions by over a third by 2020 could lead to higher energy prices being passed on the UK consumers.
The committee claims in order to hit the targets, there could be a 25 per cent rise in electricity prices by 2022.
In addition, gas prices may increase by between 18 and 37 per cent by 2020.
Mr Turner told the news agency: "I cannot deny that there will be higher electricity and gas prices.
"But that adverse impact can be offset by energy efficiency improvement subsidies."
Leading energy supplier British Gas recently opened a new emergency helpline for its customers who are concerned about their direct debit bill payments.
This Is Money reported that the firm had set some 300 staff aside to deal with queries about the gas or electricity tariffs.
