IET: Draft Energy Bill needs to focus on reducing electricity demand

The Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET), the non-profit engineering body, has today called for the government to do more to encourage the reduction of electricity usage. The call is in response to the Draft Energy Bill, presented today in Parliament by Energy Minister Ed Davey, who stated that the Bill would ensure that the lights would stay on for years to come.

The challenge in the forthcoming debates on the Bill will be to reduce the impact of the cost to consumers.

Robert Sansom of the IET, said: 

“We are surprised that no reference is made to demand in the announcement made today. Support for low carbon generation will inevitably result in higher prices for consumers, but these price increases can be offset by improvements in energy efficiency, thereby reducing energy consumption, which is also better for the environment. In addition demand has a crucial role to play in reducing the amount of capacity required. The reforms to the electricity market must recognise this role and ensure incentives are available to reward customers accordingly.”

The IET does, however, welcome the draft Energy Bill, which is urgently required to meet the challenges of energy security, affordability and climate change and will underpin the transformation of the UK’s energy sector. The IET also welcomes the publication of the Bill in draft form, to enable consultation and scrutiny, which the IET looks forward to contributing to.

The IET’s recommendations are listed in its recent briefing ‘UK Electricity Market Reform: The Engineering Perspective’.

Notes to editors:
Interview opportunities are available with IET spokespersons.
The IET is Europe’s largest professional body of engineers with over 150,000 members in 127 countries.
Draft Energy Bill: http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm83/8362/8362.asp
For more information, visit www.theiet.org.
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Media enquiries to:
Dr Belinda Webb
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E: bwebb@theiet.org