Regulation and policy

  • Energy storage and flexibility

    From zero to hero: Can CfDs split markets and reduce costs this winter?

    Given media comment on the imposition of a revenue cap for low carbon generators instead of migration of existing projects onto a CfD, please find below a blog published by Cornwall Insight three weeks ago. Not only did this note the possibility of the revenue cap being a fall back...

  • Regulation and policy

    New customer support schemes will need very careful management

    1 October 2022, marked a momentous day for the British retail energy markets, indeed for the nation as a whole. On that Saturday the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) commenced for household customers and the Energy Bill Reduction Scheme (EBRS) for businesses. Not since March 1990 have ministers had so much...

  • Regulation and policy

    Energy Price Guarantee – Counting the Costs

    Modelling from Cornwall Insight has forecast the two-year cost of the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) to be between £72bn in the lowest case scenario, and £140bn in the extreme high case scenario1. The data included in our new EPG report ‘Counting the Costs’, shows a near doubling of the forecasts...

  • Regulation and policy

    One-hit wonder? Assessing the government’s business support scheme

    Subsidising the unprecedented cost of energy for both households and businesses came in at the forefront of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Kwasi Kwarteng’s “mini-budget” last Friday. Described as “one of the biggest interventions ever made”, Kwarteng confirmed a three-step plan. Firstly, as announced on 8 September, the introduction of...

  • Energy storage and flexibility

    Electricity network reform: where are we now?

    In its Energy Security Strategy (ESS), the UK government set out ambitions for 95% of electricity to be sourced from low carbon generation by 2030 and for the UK to have a fully decarbonised electricity system by 2035. In order to accommodate this ambition, the electricity network will need to...

  • Regulation and policy

    Energy Bill Relief Scheme – the devil is in the detail

    The new government scheme will bring significant relief to many businesses and public sector organisations as they try to navigate the unprecedented energy rises. Economically it was important that government took action.The reduction in energy costs will be substantial. As a proxy and noting the challenge of calculating a homogenous...

  • Regulation and policy

    The certainty of uncertainty

    Energy prices came off at the end of the week. There is a cautiously positive sentiment that having coped with the Nord Stream 1 shutdown without price carnage and with European storage stocks on target, the August peaks are in the rearview mirror. But, whilst it is very positive that...

  • Business supply and services

    The Energy Price Guarantee, a Path Through Stormy Seas?

    Upon taking office on 6 September 2022, the first piece of major policy introduced by the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, is the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG), announced on 8 September 2022. The EPG is a series of support measures targeted at protecting domestic and business consumers from soaring energy...

  • Business supply and services

    Great expectations – the complexity of delivering on the promise for business energy costs

    Stories of hardship to businesses from rising energy prices have become much more prevalent in recent weeks as the critical 1 October date for new supply contracts looms. Our recent insight paper Weathering the storm: Mitigating the impact of energy price hikes for businesses set out some of the reasons...

  • Power and gas networks

    Gas DSR reforms ahead of winter 2022-23

    National Grid has recently carried out a review of the Gas Demand Side Response (DSR) voluntary curtailment mechanism through July and August. The Gas DSR allows shippers to offer a consumption curtailment service to National Grid Gas (NGG) during periods of acute gas supply constraint called a Gas Deficit Emergency...

  • Home supply and services

    Cornwall Insight comments on the announcement of the October price cap

    If you are a consumer seeking support with their energy bills, please read our blog here: https://www.cornwall-insight.com/support-for-consumers-concerned-about-rising-energy-bills/ The rise in the Default Tariff Cap (price cap) was unfortunately inevitable, as UK bills continue to be the victim of an unstable and unpredictable global market. While there is still some time until...

  • Home supply and services

    Highlights from our Energy Supplier Compliance webinar

    As part of our Energy supplier compliance portal service, we run a webinar every 6 months which looks at key updates.    Our latest webinar looked back at the decisions made under Ofgem’s financial resilience plan. This included strengthening milestone assessments and introducing additional reporting requirements. It also decided on the short-term interventions...

  • Home supply and services

    Cornwall Insight release final predictions for October’s Price Cap

    If you are a consumer seeking support with their energy bills, please read our blog here: https://www.cornwall-insight.com/support-for-consumers-concerned-about-rising-energy-bills/ Cornwall Insight are releasing our final predictions for October’s Default Tariff Cap (Price Cap) prior to Ofgem’s announcement on Friday 26th August. Predictions show a typical household1 will be paying £3,554 equivalent per year...

  • Low carbon generation

    Energy System Reform: Ofgem shares plans for Britain’s energy system

    Against the backdrop of record high and volatile energy prices, Ofgem set out on 8 July its view on key aspects of the GB energy system where it considers significant reform is required to deliver a resilient, low cost, low carbon energy sector. Recent developments in the energy market, such...

  • Commercial and market outlook

    Energy Market Alerts provide latest updates in a complex market

    Cornwall Insight Australia summarises all the essential facts in our Energy Market Alerts, designed to keep you up to date with all the latest developments in the market. The energy market is changing so fast that our Alerts will ensure you have the facts to hand when you need them....

  • Home supply and services

    Price cap forecasts for January rise to over £4,200 as wholesale prices surge again and Ofgem revises cap methodology

    If you are a consumer seeking support with their energy bills, please read our blog here: https://www.cornwall-insight.com/support-for-consumers-concerned-about-rising-energy-bills/ Our new forecasts for the January Default Tariff Cap have risen by over £650(1), meaning a typical household is now predicted to pay the equivalent of £4,266 a year for the three months to...

  • Regulation and policy

    The changing compliance landscape

    In recent months, Ofgem has been increasing its engagement with suppliers to ensure compliance with their supply licences and to deliver more resilient business models. This has been evidenced through a number of actions, such as stress testing suppliers and introducing additional reporting requirements, under the scope of the regulator’s...

  • Home supply and services

    Price cap to remain significantly above £3,000 a year until at least 2024

    Our latest forecasts for the Default Tariff Cap have shown a typical household’s energy bill will be well over £3,000 a year for the next 15 months, with the average bill over Summer 2023 (Apr-Sep) sitting at £3,649 – just over £300 per month. We have also updated the predictions...

  • Commercial and market outlook

    Capacity, reform, and unlawful strategies: 5 things that happened yesterday

    Capacity, reform, and unlawful strategies: yesterday was a busy day for energy geekery. The developments encapsulate the shorter and longer term challenges and uncertainties present in the energy market presently: Read the full article here

  • Commercial and market outlook

    Two thirds of energy industry professionals think the market needs to be drastically reformed

    A survey conducted of over one hundred leading energy market professionals from across the investment and advisory community, by Cornwall Insight, from the attendees of its Financing Net Zero forum, has shown nearly two thirds (63%) of people working in the energy industry1 believe the UK market needs to be...

  • Regulation and policy

    New nuclear: BEIS consults on RAB revenue arrangements

    BEIS published on 14 June its consultation on the revenue stream element of the proposed Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model to incentivise the deployment of new nuclear projects. BEIS is responsible for implementing this as legislated by the Nuclear Energy (Financing) Act 2022 which received Royal Assent on 31 March...

  • Home supply and services

    Making the switch – how much will really change?

    Last week on 1 July, Ofgem confirmed that the designated Go-Live date for the Centralised Switching Service (CSS) would be 00:01AM on 18 July 2022, as was previously anticipated. The most significant impact of this will be the requirement on suppliers to ensure switches are completed within five working days,...

  • Home supply and services

    Default Tariff Cap forecast climbs further as Ofgem announcement looms

    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 As the energy market continues to grapple with global political and economic uncertainty, the corresponding high wholesale prices, and...

  • Regulation and policy

    Hanging in the balance – Ofgem’s latest proposals on protecting customer credit and RO payments

    Ofgem has published a consultation setting out its latest proposal to deal with the risks – and costs – of supplier failure. This forms part of a broader piece of work on increasing the financial resilience of suppliers and curbing the costs passed on to all customers after a supplier...

  • Home supply and services

    New forecasts for the January Default Tariff Cap rise to over £3,000 for a typical user

    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 This week Cornwall Insight released its updated forecasts for the Default Tariff Cap. Q1 2023 which runs from January...

  • Home supply and services

    Windfall taxes are not the only solution to the energy crisis

    The energy market is in a state of transition, with geopolitical concerns threatening to undermine energy security and subsequent wholesale energy rises pushing up bills. It is inevitable that policymakers will look at how best to deliver an affordable energy system for consumers. The temporary, targeted energy profits levy, or...

  • Home supply and services

    Tapestry: Ofgem’s new quarterly Default Tariff Cap

    This article was extracted from our Energy Spectrum publication published 23 May 2022. Energy Spectrum is a weekly news service which keeps you up-to-date with developments in the market. For the full article please contact us at enquiries@cornwall-insight.com The announcement by Ofgem of its minded-to decision in respect of a...

  • Regulation and policy

    Cheapest fixed tariff energy deals £1,700 more than the Price Cap

    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 Our latest research compiled using Comparison Technologies, has shown the average price of the cheapest ten fixed price tariffs...

  • Announcement

    2021/22 Australian energy insights report

    Analytics on key current developments in the Australian energy industry are available Cornwall Insight Australia has released a compilation of Australian energy insights, charts, and analyses. The report includes the topics of energy storage and flexibility, generation (all technologies), power prices, low carbon generation, FCAS, policy and regulation, and transmission...

  • Home supply and services

    What is the Market Stabilisation Charge?

    The Market Stabilisation Charge (MSC) requires all domestic suppliers acquiring a customer to make a payment to the supplier that is losing the customer. The charge applies to all switches, so suppliers are not obliged to inform competitors which tariff the consumer switched to or from. It is comprised of...