Electricity Market Reform consultation is here! - December 2010

The Government issued its Electricity Market Reform proposals on Thursday 17 December. These centre on carbon price suport, comprehensive feed-in tariffs for low-carbon generation, capacity payments and an emissions performance standard.

We provided an initial commentary in Energy spectrum on 20 December. Our primer, here, includes commentary, further background and a summary of stakeholder reactions. Further analysis and comment will follow in the New Year.

Ofgem's Project Transmit: Call for evidence - November 2010

As part of the regulator's review of transmission connection and charging arrangements we call for consideration to be given to increasing transparency and stability of charges so that all market participants can better understand possible changes.

Specifically many independent suppliers currently find it particularly burdensome to account for alterations to transmission charges in contracts and tariffs, and in this context we think the review should also consider the governance of charges and the need to ensure orderly process and prioritisation of change.

Click here to read our response.

"Barriers to entry in low-carbon markets" - customer event - October 2010

Cornwall Energy hosted a customer event on 13 October 2010. Four presentations were given on the subject of "addressing barriers to entry in low-carbon markets". Three were given by active market participants, which provided a view from different perspectives on the opportunities and challenges that currently exist. Nigel Cornwall concluded by exploring the possibility of reforming the electricity trading arrangements by building on existing structures.

The discussions were  chaired by Professor Stephen Littlechild, who stimulated plenty of discussion.

Click here to read a summary of all the presentations.

DECC's implementation of the EU third energy package - October 2010

We have criticised the consultation process and timeframes DECC has followed for this consultation. Despite the EU third energy package being published in August 2009 no clarity was provided on whether new licence obligations would fall on domestic and/ or business suppliers.  

As new licences are due to come into effect in March 2011 suppliers are not clear what is expected of them.

Click here to read our response.

Ofgem's electricity market liquidity "summer 2010 assessment" - September 2010

This response calls for the regulator to not undertake a "wait and see" strategy to see if the market will deliver solutions to address poor liquidity in the wholesale electricity market.

We argue that a modest targeted obligation on the Big Six to offer terms and appropriate products similar to those available to their own supply business to independent suppliers is the right way forward.

Click here to read our response.

Ofgem's consultation on revised submission and implementation dates for the EDCM - August 2010

In this submission we support the regulator's proposal to delay the implementation of the EHV Common Distribution Charging Methodology (EDCM) until April 2012. This should give DNOs and suppliers more time to understand the new charging models and allow for firm indicative charges to be published with CDCM charges in December 2011.

This approach would also ensure that suppliers and customers could complete the annual contract round in October 2011 without the hindrance of uncertain network costs.

Click here to read our response.

Welsh household electricity prices - A Paper for Consumer Focus Wales - June 2010

Consumer Focus Wales asked us to update our 2008 analysis of the costs of supplying electricity to consumers in Wales compared with England and Scotland. We found that the premium paid by Welsh consumers had narrowed, as their prices had risen by less than elsewhere in Great Britain. The updated report can be read here

Response to Ofgem's costs for administering the RO consultation - April 2010

Click here to see our response to the recent consultation from the regulator seeking views on the increased costs it faces to administer the Renewables Obligation (RO).

Liquidity proposals for the GB - April 2010

Cornwall Energy has submitted a response to Ofgem's Liquidity Proposals for the GB Wholesale Electricity Market consultation, which closed on 23 April.

We welcome the work Ofgem is doing to improve liquidity, but argue that the market should not be left to deliver solutions. We also set out which of the options the regulator has put forward should be progressed.

Our response can be found here.

Spring supplement 2010 - April 2010

To mark the 2010 general election Cornwall Energy released its spring 2010 supplement.

New Directions? The General Election and Energy Policy pulls together selected recent Energy spectrum articles that consider the main political parties? manifestoes. We have outlined the similarities and key differences of the policies, and how these may affect the energy industry. We have also included some coverage of the Budget, while noting that the real fiscal measures are likely to follow in the summer.

The Spring supplement 2010 can be read here.

What's the deal - Energy suppliers' social tariffs and rebates - February 2010

Consumer Focus asked Cornwall Energy to update its 2007 assessment of electricity and gas suppliers' voluntary social tariffs and bill rebates for low-income consumers for the year ending 31 March 2009.

This report sets out our assessment of suppliers' social packages at 31 March 2009 and compares them with the original autumn 2007 assessment produced for Consumer Focus' predecessor, Energywatch.

Click here to read the report.

Ofgem's proposed corporate strategy and plan 2010-15 - February 2010

Our response to the regulator's consultation on its Ofgem's proposed corporate strategy and plan 2010-15 can be found here.

We focus on the creation of Ofgem E-serve and call for it to only undertake work following a clear and open tender process to ensure that other prospective providers of such services have had an opportunity to bid for the work.