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What incredible stupidity

Gas and electricity could be sold to consumers via a state-controlled body under radical reforms, proposed by the regulator Ofgem, which acknowledge that the decade-old free market approach to energy is no longer working.

Ofgem has also proposed setting minimum supply obligations on energy companies to make sure the lights don\’t go out, in moves reminiscent of the new capital requirements that have been placed on banks to stop them going bust following the financial crisis.

Energy experts said that the regulator\’s proposals represented an \”extraordinary volte-face\”. Ofgem has been one of the biggest advocates of a liberalised energy market, arguing that companies could be left to build enough new power stations and low-carbon forms of generation to guarantee energy supplies and reduce carbon emissions.

But only a fraction of the estimated £200bn investment needed by 2020 has been made, because volatile energy prices, and the short-term supply contracts that have characterised liberalisation, have made spending such huge sums too risky.

What\’s the next one after \”facepalm\”?

Lordy almighty this is the most incredible stupidity.

The reason that investment hasn\’t been happening in new plants is regulatory uncertainty. Will anyone be allowed to build new nuclear? What will be the insurance arrangements for those who do? Where might such plants be built? What about waste?

With coal, what will be the carbon capture requirements?

The current government has been pissing about not taking these decisions for a decade. Thus people haven\’t known what they can build, where, or how much it will cost.

So, given that the cock up is entirely government made, the solution is to add government to the process?

Seriously?

What on earth are these idiots at Ofgem thinking?

10 thoughts on “What incredible stupidity”

  1. What on earth are these idiots at Ofgem thinking?

    Personal power, control, status. Ambitions fulfilled. Bigger departments, more people to boss around. Being wined and dined by fawning lobbyists and industry bosses. Direct access to ministers maybe even cabinet secretaries or if the gods are smiling the PM himself.

  2. They want to be a latter day Scargill – he who controls the heat and light controls the nation.

    This country seems hellbent on reproducing Atlas Shrugged for real, so I recommend you read it and take the appropriate precautions.

  3. The older I get, the more it seems to me that every single thing government does is actually a response to an earlier government cock up.

  4. “Gas and electricity could be sold to consumers via a state-controlled body under radical reforms, proposed by the regulator Ofgem, which acknowledge that the decade-old free market approach to energy is no longer working.”

    What isn’t working is Government, not the energy markets.

    It’s like the banking crisis being talked up as a failure of capitalism. What capitalism?

    It is a distraction. A lie. Intentional misdirection from the organ that caused the problems – the State – and to pretend that the solution to the problem is more State.

  5. What are they thinking….I can mind read:

    ‘those tories are going to scrap useless quangocrats like us…if we get our hands on something really chunky we can get away with pretending we are not a bunch of hot air wibble merchants after all’

  6. “Gas and electricity could be sold to consumers via a state-controlled body under radical reforms, proposed by the regulator Ofgem, which acknowledge that the decade-old free market approach to energy is no longer working.”

    Usual lefty governmental bo||ocks, worrying about the size of the cake and not how to increase it. It’s lies to say the market hasnt worked – how can it? You stupid buggers in Whitehall wont let them build more capacity!!

    For years we’ve known North Sea gas was running out – and done nothing about it.

    For years we’ve known the coal fired power stations were going to be shut down by the EU eco-facists – and done nothing about it.

    For years we’ve known the most of the nukes were going to be shut down – and done nothing about it.

    For years sensible folk have known that windmills are not the answer (no matter how heavily you subsidise them) – and done nothing about it.

    Only now when there’s not enough time to actually build ANYTHING in time to stop the blackouts does NuLieBore and its pet quango get off its fat collective arse. Too bloody late mates – the lights are going out.

    The (really obvious and simple) solution is to build nukes, lots of them starting now with no planning enquiries/delays. We might also need some coal stations as well ‘cos they’re quicker to build. Again, ignore the eco-facists start now with no planning enquiries/delays. We’ll also have to fudge the closure dates on some of the existing capacity to keep the lights on anyway….and I dont want to hear a peep from the eco-facists, it’s your problem numpties!! Just f***ing do it!!

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