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Lockdown measures created a sudden fall in electricity demand at the end of March and into April, with demand falling by 15% below 2019 levels. However, recent research from Cornwall Insight shows that since July, there has been a gradual rise in energy demand back up towards 2019 levels. In fact, demand hit the same level as last year at the...

The Government has announced it will review its policy on the future UK offshore oil and gas licensing regime as part of the wider aim of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The review will ensure the Government has the information needed to plan for future oil and gas production in the UK, in a way that is aligned with...

West Yorkshire councils’ not-for-profit energy supplier White Rose Energy will be discontinued due to the recently announced sale of its partner Robin Hood Energy Following significant losses and an external strategic review Nottingham City Council—which owns Robin Hood Energy—has decided to sell the business and its customers to British Gas. In a statement issued by Leeds City Council, the ‘white label’...

Water companies in England and Wales must continue to pick up the pace in tackling the impact of climate change on water supplies, according to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW). The consumer group’s annual Water, Water, Everywhere? report reveals that while the industry has made positive progress in fixing leaks, these efforts must be accelerated to meet the immediate and long-term pressures...

Centrica plc, through its British Gas business, has agreed to acquire the energy supply customers of Robin Hood Energy Limited for an undisclosed sum. Robin Hood Energy, Nottingham City Council's not-for-profit energy company, currently serves around 112,000 residential customers, and 2,600 business customers across 10,000 sites. Completion of the transaction is expected on 16 September with customers moving to British Gas...

The European Sustainable Investment Forum (Eurosif) has voiced their views against new environmental, social and governance (ESG)-reporting rules proposed by the European Commission. In April, the three European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA) invited comments regarding draft ESG-disclosure standards for financial market participants, advisers and products. Under draft proposals for product-level disclosure by asset managers and other financial groups, the...

Green banking and impact investment experts are the newest members of a Trade Advisory Group advising the government on trade deals during Brexit negotiations. Dame Elizabeth Corley and Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas OBE are offering their expertise in the Financial Services advisory group. Ms Corley, former CEO of Allianz Global Investors, currently chairs the Impact Investing Institute. Launched in 2019, the Institute brings...

The government has announced the latest round of funding for local projects to improve air quality across England. Local Authorities can bid for a portion of at least £2 million for a wide range of projects to improve air quality and create cleaner and healthier environments. Environment Minister Rebecca Pow commented: “Air pollution, and in particular PM2.5, carries enormous risks to...

The first fine relating to the publication of inside information in energy markets in GB and the EU, according to the regulator, 'sends a strong message to SSE, and other wholesale energy market participants, about the importance of fully complying with REMIT rules.' Under the Regulation on Wholesale Energy Market Integrity and Transparency (REMIT), ‘inside information’ is information which is...

Private water supplies in England are more likely to fail stringent water quality tests than public supplies, warns the UK plumber approval body WaterSafe. WaterSafe is highlighting the risk as figures from the Drinking Water Inspectorate show 3.4 per cent of tests on privately owned and operated water networks failed to meet drinking water quality standards in the latest published results. This is 80 times the...