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The energy price cap will increase from 1 October, Ofgem has announced. Those on default tariffs paying by direct debit are set to see an increase of £139 from £1,138 to £1277, while prepayment customers will see an increase of £153 from £1,156 to £1309. This increase is reported to be driven by a rise of over 50% in energy costs...

Ofwat has launched a statutory consultation on changes in its charging rules. The water regulator sets principle-based charging rules which are set to give companies flexibility to innovate in how they calculate and present their charges and offer better customer services. Having the ability to set rules means the water regulator can monitor developments and respond to them accordingly and resolve...

Architects Registration Board (ARB), which sets the criteria that institutions teaching architecture must meet for their students to qualify and register as architects, has published new guidance for schools of architecture on Fire and life safety design and Environmental sustainability. The guidance, which will apply to all institutions offering ARB-recognised qualifications, aims to ensure that future architects are competent to...

Wales could be a leader in renewable energy, with strengths in onshore and offshore wind, solar, wave and tidal energy, and new potential in floating offshore wind, but a clear strategy for the renewable energy sector is missing, according to a new report by the Welsh Affairs Committee. As a result, the Committee recommends a specific ‘Ten Point Plan’ for...

'Record levels' of local flexibility have been contracted by Britain’s electricity distribution networks this year, according to new figures from Energy Networks Association (ENA). According to the industry body, 1.6GW has been contracted since the beginning of 2021 to date, and this is set to increase in the coming months as more flexibility is tendered out. This is reported to...

Proposed amendments to support effective operation of the UK Emission Trading Scheme (UK ETS) by addressing a number of residual technical issues identified during the development and legislation of the scheme. The UK ETS was established in law in 2020, with the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Order 2020 (GGETS Order 2020) introducing the majority of legal provisions under the...

The government’s new draft Strategic Policy Statement for Ofwat has been published for consultation by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). The statement sets out the government’s strategic priorities for Ofwat's regulation of the water sector in England. Environment Minister Rebecca Pow commented on the announcement: "We need water companies to take much more robust and ambitious action...

The Environmental Audit Committee has announced to be examining how the aviation and shipping sectors can best achieve net zero emissions. During the inquiry, the Committee will be considering areas which could play a significant role in reducing emissions for the aviation and shipping sectors. These include the commercialisation of new technologies and low, transitioning to zero, carbon fuels, reductions in...

Ofwat has confirmed its view that levels of bad debt costs across the business retail market are exceeding 2% of non-household revenue, therefore deciding that a temporary increase in the maximum prices retailers are permitted to charge is warranted.   Measures introduced since March 2020 to contain the spread of COVID-19 could lead to Retailers facing higher levels of customer...

Total energy use in the UK dropped 13% in 2020, according to a new brief by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Highlighting recent energy statistics, 'UK energy in brief 2021' reveals the scale of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on total energy use. Here's a roundup of some of the data highlights:  Impact of COVID-19  As a result...