Response to UK Government Ann

RNS Number : 2208D

Scottish & Southern Energy PLC

11 September 2008

 



RESPONSE TO UK GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Scottish and Southern Energy plc ('SSE') notes the decision by the UK government to require energy suppliers to increase substantially their spending on the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and to require suppliers and electricity generators to contribute to a new community energy savings programme.

During 2008/09 as a whole, energy suppliers are already scheduled to spend around £900m on CERT measures, of which 16% are expected to be delivered by SSE.  The UK government's decision to impose these new requirements is expected to add around £300m a year to the overall total in the current year and in each of the next two years.  

Alistair Phillips-Davies, Energy Supply Director of SSE, said:

'Today's package comes on top of the agreement reached just five months ago to offer significantly increased assistance to the fuel poor and groups vulnerable to fuel poverty. The scale of what the government is now expecting, and the extent of the resources required to deliver it at short notice, at a time of rising fuel input costs, are very substantial.  

'The imposition of a new obligation on electricity generators will clearly require the detailed consultation which the government proposes.

'Nevertheless, we fully recognise the pressures faced by householders the length and breadth of the country. The government's wish to secure sustainable savings in energy bills is understandable, and a major new energy efficiency initiative of this kind is clearly the right way to do it.'

 

END

 

 

NRAGUUGWBUPRGUG