23 Oct 2013

Rolling back green policies

It might sound like the PM wants to lower your energy bill. But according to his own government documents, doing this seemingly popular U-turn would mean it in fact goes up.

“We need to roll back some of the green regulations and charges”, said David Cameron.

It might sound like the PM wants to lower your energy bill. But according to his own government documents doing this seemingly popular U-turn would mean it in fact goes up.

Somebody is talking rubbish – but is it Downing Street, the Treasury or the Department of Energy and Climate Change? You decide. 

In March this year DECC issued a long document about the overall impact of green policies that add to our energy bills. You might not realise it but various green initiatives have been funded from our bills because the Treasury doesn’t have money to pay for it directly.

DECC calculates it adds up to about £112 on the average bill. That’s what David Cameron has been implying he could cut our bills by. But would it make sense?

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According to the catchy titled “Estimated impacts of energy and climate change policies on energy prices and bills”  DECC has calculated that the average bill in 2020 if green policies are dropped is set to be £1,496. Their projected bill if green policies are kept is £1,331. That’s the first and biggest argument to get over.

The Treasury have long been thought to be on the side of slimming down green policies – ever since George Osborne started warning that Britain should not go bust to save the planet.

The Lib Dems have controlled DECC since 2010 and climate change is one of their most important issues.

Downing Street were the Inbetweeners – David Cameron had relaunched the party with that green oak tree and the trip to Norway and the huskies. Not anymore. He wants to roll back – but will his Lib Dem coalition partners roll with it?

Follow @krishgm on Twitter.