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Categories
- Low carbon generation 203
- Commercial and market outlook 140
- Regulation and policy 127
- Home supply and services 106
- Energy storage and flexibility 74
- Announcement 57
- Power and gas networks 30
- Business supply and services 25
- E-mobility and low carbon 25
- Net zero corporates and ESG 24
- Heat networks 12
- Water 9
- Energy Market Design 3
- Innovations 2
- FAQs 2
- Year in industry 2
Regulation and policy
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Commercial and market outlook
2021’s most exciting ‘Charts of the week’
Some of our team have looked back throughout 2021 and picked their most exciting 'Chart of the week'. Read about their choices and click through to read the full 'Chart of the week'. To do so, you need a free Cornwall Insight account which is easy to create here. Green...
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Commercial and market outlook
Price cap set for 46% rise for Summer 2022, Winter 2022-23 cap may exceed £2,000
Due to market volatility, world events and Ofgem's new methodology, our price cap prediction has changed. Please see the latest predictions via our blogs page here Updated price cap figures here Following further highs in wholesale prices and the costs associated with the raft of supplier failures seen in the...
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Heat networks
Heat network approaches being developed by devolved administrations and UK government
A number of further consultations on the policy approaches for heat networks have been issued in recent weeks: The Scottish government published its draft Heat Networks Delivery Plan on 15 November, outlining how it will quintuple heat demand provided from heat networks in Scotland by 2030; and The UK government issued...
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Power and gas networks
New Fault Ride Through compliance arrangements introduced for transmission-connected generators
Ofgem approved Workgroup Alternative Grid Code Modification 1 (WAGCM1) of GC0151 Grid Code Compliance with Fault Ride Through (FRT) Requirements on 5 November. In short, this decision introduces a new, legal process, into the Grid Code – the legal text that governs those connecting to the electricity transmission system -...
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Regulation and policy
Just the bill please – who picks up the costs of market exits?
This article is an extract from our Energy Spectrum Nutwood. find out more about a subscription to Energy Spectrum here. Between 9 August 2021 and 19 November 2021, 22 energy suppliers exited the market impacting more than 2mn mainly domestic customers. Supplier exits result in a number of costs being...
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Regulation and policy
Keeping an eye on compliance
In response to the rising wholesale energy prices, Ofgem published a letter on 29 October setting out the steps that it is taking to protect the short- and long-term interests of consumers. In addition to its intention to consult this month on the current price cap methodology, Ofgem set out...
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Regulation and policy
Net Zero Strategy and Budget reaction with Craig Lowrey
Yesterday, at our 'Net zero business forum', senior consultant Craig Lowrey gave his reaction to energy aspects of the UK budget and the flurry of policy announcements that preceded it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zeldg2yG09M Our 'Net zero business forum' Our online bi-monthly 'Net zero business forum' offers members the opportunity to benefit from...
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Net zero corporates and ESG
The stakes are higher than they seem: the current energy challenge and net zero
It has been an incredibly challenging week in the UK energy sector, and attention has rightly focussed on consumer protection, and indirectly on the state of the energy supply markets. However, it would be a mistake to believe that the ramifications of supplier failure will be limited only to this...
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Announcement
ESB and Cornwall Insight Australia provide final advice to energy ministers
Last week, the Energy Security Board (ESB) released its recommendations for the redesign of the National Electricity Market (NEM). Cornwall Insight Australia (CIA) was engaged by the ESB to assess the potential benefit of the proposed essential system service reform package for system strength provision. The report detailed that these...
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Home supply and services
“Green” tariffs in the spotlight as BEIS commences review
With the announcement on 16 August of a call for evidence on Designing a Framework for Transparency of Carbon Content in Energy Products, consultant Josephine Lord looks at the issues being considered and what the future may hold for so-called “green” tariffs. The call for evidence is the first step...
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Regulation and policy
How will consumers take to Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement?
Ofgem published its decision to implement the move to Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement (MHHS) on 20 April. This confirms plans to move to new settlement arrangements over a four and a half year time period, with the Elexon-led Design Working Group’s Target Operating Model to be used as the blueprint. Meters...
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Regulation and policy
Ofgem raises modifications ahead of RCC and new switching arrangements
The latest edition of our Faster Switching Service Report due to be issued this week includes the latest developments in Ofgem’s Switching Programme and the associated Retail Energy Code (REC). Launched in November 2019, the Retail Code Consolidation (RCC) Significant Code Review (SCR) set out Ofgem’s intention to amalgamate the...
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Regulation and policy
Calm before the storm? 2021 energy supplier compliance developments
The latest update to our Energy Supplier Compliance Portal went live on 4 May and includes changes to the compliance landscape during February to April 2021. While the previous quarter’s update reflected new principles resulting from Ofgem’s Supplier Licensing Review (SLR) and protections for prepayment meter customers facing self-disconnection, Q121...
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Regulation and policy
Electricity transmission charging reform – overtaken by changing priorities?
Charging for the transmission network is never out of the development process for long. From major reviews, such as that initiated under Project Transmit in 2010, to significant reforms such as removing the triad benefit from distributed generation in 2018, and a host of smaller developments, change seems the only...
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Low carbon generation
Why energy system governance is not fit for purpose
In my recent blog, the Emperor’s new clothes I referenced a poll of our Financing Net Zero (FNZ) membership which revealed 75% support for an energy systems architect to ensure we manage the net zero transition. In the spirit of independent thinking that Cornwall Insight is known for, I respectfully disagreed and...
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Announcement
What’s changed? Celebrating 750 issues of Energy spectrum
Today marks 750 editions of Energy Spectrum, our flagship publication which covers news and insight on the energy market. To celebrate, we present six Energy Perspectives from past publications, going as far back as 2005, which we believe still have relevance today. Issue 4 – ‘Smart metering’ - Energy policy’s missing...
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Regulation and policy
Answers to some FAQs about Brexit
Following the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 and the signing of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, aspects of the relationship between UK and the EU in respect of the arrangements for energy trading and cooperation have changed. We set out answers to some Frequently Asked Questions...
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Business supply and services
Energy suppliers must be ready to demonstrate compliance with new principles
From 22 January, energy suppliers were required to follow new principles resulting from Ofgem’s Supplier Licensing Review (SLR), which initially kicked off nearly three years ago. Such was the breadth of the SLR, changes were introduced in two rounds, with the first round of changes bringing the introduction of tougher...
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Regulation and policy
Ofgem “hands-on” in RIIO-2 as net zero route unfolds
During the next round of the RIIO price controls, Ofgem can be expected to take a more hands-on approach to outputs the networks are required to provide and the allowed revenues they can charge their users or consumers. This will have impacts for network development including the enabling of electric...
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Commercial and market outlook
A look back at 2020 part 4
As we take our first steps into 2021, we take our final look back at the biggest developments in the UK energy markets in 2020, setting us up for the significant year ahead. Ofgem issued its decarbonisation Action Plan on 3 February as Jonathan Brearley became Ofgem CEO, setting out...
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Business supply and services
A look back at 2020 part 3
As we take our first steps into 2021, we continue to look back at the biggest developments in the UK energy markets in 2020, setting us up for the significant year ahead. The mergers and exits from the supply market that were seen in 2019 continued into 2020 and led...
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Regulation and policy
New gas transmission charging requires early charge changes
New gas transmission charging arrangements were implemented in October 2020 under UNC678A Amendments to Gas Charging Regime (Postage Stamp) in order to achieve alignment with the EU Tariffs Code (TAR). The change introduced a framework around capacity charges to cover transmission revenues with a methodology to calculate reserve prices based...
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Regulation and policy
Ofgem’s Network Access and Forward Looking Charges review – should I be interested
Spoiler – if you are a distribution connected generator, yes, In a big way Ofgem is currently progressing one of its biggest overhauls of network charging; with the Targeted Charging Review having only recently concluded that is quite a statement. We have already seen the value to distribution connected generators...
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Regulation and policy
What will the introduction of the Retail Energy Code mean for metering companies?
Ofgem has proposed that certain metering companies will need to become full parties to the new dual fuel Retail Energy Code (REC). What will this mean in practice? Metering Equipment Managers (MEMs) is a term introduced for the REC, encompassing electricity Meter Operator Agents (commonly termed MOPs) and gas Meter...
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Regulation and policy
Targeted Charging Review residual network charges – some remainders
While Ofgem has ruled on the arrangements that will apply to distribution use of system (DUoS) charges from 1 April 2022 following the regulator’s Targeted Charging Review (TCR) Significant Code Review (SCR) decision last November, it has still to determine a series of CUSC modifications that aim to put in...
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Regulation and policy
Finding best practice in Ofgem’s compliance engagement outcomes
The past few months have involved a shake-up of the status quo for all of us, with the ramifications of COVID-19 having a disproportionate impact across society. Being an essential service, energy has been at the forefront of policy-makers minds as suppliers have sought to ensure that those most severely...
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Regulation and policy
Ofgem faces RIIO-2 balancing act for net zero
The regulator recently issued the draft determinations for the RIIO-2 price control for the transmission and gas distribution networks and the electricity system operator (ESO). These price controls will run for five years from April 2021. Shortly after, it also set out the next stage of detail – the “sector...
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Regulation and policy
Faster Switching Programme gears up for re-commencing
Due to be issued this week, the sixth edition of our Faster Switching Service Report details the Switching Programme’s re-planning exercise as well as industry participants’ progress on data cleansing. The Switching Programme is facilitating the industry’s move towards new arrangements from March 2022, which should see domestic customers able...
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Regulation and policy
New horizons: DCC plans to expand remit over next 5 years
The government awarded the Data Communications Company (DCC) licence to Capita subsidiary Smart DCC Ltd in 2013. As an Ofgem-regulated monopoly, the DCC’s remit was to set up the smart metering communications infrastructure, linking up 53mn electricity and gas meters with the systems of energy suppliers, network companies and third...