Book Description
The Government is committed to moving to a secure, safe, affordable and low-carbon energy system. This will mean achieving its climate change and renewables targets, including a 34 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020 (relative to 1990); at least an 80 per cent reduction by 2050; and by 2020 ensuring that 15 per cent of energy comes from renewable sources. This transition will require major investment in modern technologies: to renovate buildings; to provide for the electrification of much of our heating, industry and transport; and to move to cleaner power generation. It will also require major changes in the way energy is used by individuals, industry and the public sector. At the core of the Bill is the need to ensure that, as older power plants are taken offline and electricity demand continues to increase, the UK remains able to generate enough energy to meet its needs. The Energy Bill will: implement the electricity market reforms set out in the white paper 'Planning our electric future ... ' (Cm. 8099, ISBN 9780101809924); clarify the role of the regulator, Ofgem; establish an Office for Nuclear Regulation; make changes to the offshore transmission regulatory framework; and make provisions for the potential sale of Government Pipeline and Storage System. This document contains a description of the Bill's aims, the draft Bill and explanatory notes, together with a summary impact assessment.