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Ofgem restructured to meet climate change challenge
8 September 2009
Commenting on today's restructuring of Ofgem, which is aimed at helping to meet the challenge of global climate change, Friends of the Earth's Energy campaigner, Robin Webster, said:
"Ofgem has a crucially important role to play in the development of a low carbon economy - so some of these changes to its remit are very welcome.
"But even though Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband has stressed that cutting carbon emissions would be a principal objective for the UK's energy regulator, Ofgem has indicated that tackling climate change is still not a number one priority.
"The best way for Ofgem to protect the long-term interests of consumers is for it to help develop a clean, safe and prosperous future for us all."
ENDS
1. The energy regulator said in a press release today that the changes will "not dilute Ofgem's number one priority of protecting consumers". http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Media/PressRel/Documents1/New%20Ofgem.pdf
2. The low carbon transition plan, launched on 15 July of this year by Ed Miliband, states that "The Energy Act 2008 made it clearer that the principal objective of Ofgem in exercising its functions under the Gas Act 1986 and the Electricity Act 1989 is to protect the interests of future as well as existing consumers. The Government now proposes to amend the legislation to clarify that this objective includes security of supply and reducing carbon emissions." Page 98 low carbon transition plan: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/publications/lc_trans_plan/lc_trans_plan.aspx
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Sep 2009
