It makes good sense for businesses and consumers to minimise energy usage to save costs; however, this Conservative Government has over the last 13 years failed to provide our nation with reliable energy at a reasonable price.
Specifically, I give my views on the following areas:
- Energy Self Sufficiency
- Nuclear Energy
- Shale Gas
- Subsidies and Wind Farms
- Household Responsibilities
- AQUIND Electricity Connector
1. Energy Self Sufficiency
The UK is a net importer of electricity; however, I believe that the UK must become self-sufficient in energy since should exporters suffer an energy shortage, they will be first to cut overseas supplies. The source of the statistics is here.
By not being self-sufficient in energy, we open ourselves up to blackmail. In 2021 France threatened to cut power to Jersey in a fishing row where France was blackmailing the Channel Islands for unjustified fishing rights.
This situation is exacerbated by the UK importing 50% of the gas needed for the generation of electricity.
The UK must never allow itself to be put in a position where we could be blackmailed and must assure energy self-sufficiency.
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2. Nuclear Power
Nuclear power is one of the most low-carbon energy sources and is reliable and cost-effective. Sizewell-B was the last nuclear power station that was commissioned in the UK when it became operational in 1995. However, both Labour and Conservative Governments have been delinquent in only having Hinkley Point C under construction since 1985.
The five operational nuclear power stations are due to reach end-of-life in 2025. It is vital that the UK expedites new nuclear power generation capacity.
3. Shale Gas
The UK is sitting on a £2 trillion shale gas reserve that could and should be tapped. Statistics in the USA clearly demonstrate the benefits of extracting shale gas resulting in lower gas prices and making consumers $150 a year better off.
The UK has easily extractable shale gas, and we should harvest this gas to help us deliver lower prices to consumers and greater energy security to the Country.
During the 2022/23 winter consumers were generously incentivised to cut power during periods when the National Grid was short of power, to avoid power cuts.
Because I believe in minimising power consumption, we took part in the scheme and made a £35 profit while helping the National Grid.
However, if the Conservatives and Labour had capitalised on our shale gas, that event and future events should not be necessary.
4. Subsidies and Wind Farms
A mere 0.03% of offshore wind is owned by British public entities, and almost half is owned by foreign governments. I am uneasy about foreign governments and foreign companies owning critical UK infrastructure, which I believe should be part-owned by our Government and UK companies or individuals. As well as killing birds and mammals, wind farms produce little energy when there is no wind, but produce too much with strong winds such that the Government pays record-high market electricity rates to wind farm owners making the non-production of electricity more profitable than the production of power.
The UK needs a stable source of energy and I support the complete phase-out of taxpayer subsidises to renewable energy sources. We need to prevent an energy crisis and prevent power rationing.
Reform UK's official energy policy is here.
5. Householder Responsibilities
With the levels of this current government's taxation so high, it makes sense for householders to be as energy efficient as possible.
In our property, we have installed solar panels and a heat pump to keep us warm in winter, but unlike the Government approved scheme, we can reverse it to cool our property in summer when we have surplus solar. I do not recommend the Government approved scheme as it is less efficient, slow to react, and more expensive to install and run than an air-air heat pump. I do recommend the installation of solar panels and a battery for significant running cost savings if this is possible, and the installation is financially worthwhile.
The Government promised to cut VAT on domestic fuel after Brexit, as it could but has failed to do so as it permitted the EU to annex Northern Ireland, which cannot alter domestic fuel VAT rates. Presumably, the Conservatives do not want to cause friction with either the EU or Northern Ireland.
However, the installation of heat pumps, solar panels, and batteries is not always possible or desirable in some properties, and so I completely oppose the net zero drive for the elimination of gas boilers. We should use our shale gas to provide a cheap and reliable source of energy to heat our homes.
6. AQUIND Electricity Connector
I will join the campaign to halt the proposed AQUIND power connector joining France and the UK which would terminate in Portsmouth and I have signed the Stop AQUIND Petition. My reasons for objecting are: we should not be importing power into the UK, we should generate our own; construction would be on contaminated ground and recreational areas and community facilities as well as causing significant unnecessary disruption to residents and businesses along the proposed route.
Please visit STOPAQUIND where you will find comprehensive reasons why this project must not be allowed to go ahead.
The current status is: In January 2023, a decision by the then Business Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, to block the cable was overturned by judicial review. The decision is likely to be referred back to the current business secretary, Grant Shapps (who has since become the Defence Secretary).