Centrica boss wants "honest" energy-security debate

London – Centrica CEO Sam Laidlaw has called for an “honest and transparent” debate with Government, consumers and businesses about the long term challenge of keeping the lights on and reducing the UK’s carbon emissions.

OFGEM, the UK’s energy regulator, has said the investment required to ensure UK energy security and to decarbonise the power industry to 2020 could see consumer bills increase by anything between 23-52% – equivalent to adding between £250 and £600 to today’s average annual bill.

However, an opinion poll commissioned by Centrica, found that while one third of respondents were willing to pay an additional £100 on their annual bill to ensure decarbonisation and security of supply, only 1% would be prepared to pay an extra £500.

The survey also found that only 25% of respondents felt it was vital for the government to stick to plans for creating a low carbon power industry if it led to higher bills.

Speaking at the Economist energy summit, Laidlaw said: “We are rapidly approaching a tipping point in the energy story of this country and there is a risk that society is not being realistic about the path ahead.”

“Over this next decade three forces are coming together - our growing dependence on increasingly volatile world energy markets; our commitment to make serious cuts in carbon emissions; and our obligation as a society to ensure that energy remains affordable at a time of huge pressure on household incomes.”

Warning of a real danger of a disconnect between reality and popular understanding, he added: “I believe that low carbon is the right route to take. It is also the established policy of all the major political parties. But the public needs to know the price; and the public needs to take ownership of the decision, along with the energy companies and the Government.”

Centrica’s survey also found that 82% of respondents said they were worried about the UK’s increasing dependency on imported gas. The UK currently imports around 50% of the gas it requires with this projected to rise to 75% by 2020.

Ageing power stations are approaching the end of their operating lives - all but one of the current fleet of nuclear power stations is due to be shut down by 2023 and 29% of current coal fired power stations will close by the end of 2015. Overall by 2020 the UK will need to replace 30% of its current generation.

Laidlaw continued, “As power stations are retired they need to be replaced by low carbon generation, however all these technologies have significantly higher capital costs than conventional generation. All require some degree of incentive and a support mechanism.”

“These changes are largely being driven by Government policies to make sure that we have a sustainable energy market in the decades to come. And the effects are already beginning to feed through to the cost of energy. So-called “non-commodity” charges have risen by nearly 10% this year and will continue to increase well into the future.”

The Centrica boss proposed a five point plan to help the energy industry meet the challenges ahead:
- Constructive engagement among all stakeholders to help create better public understanding of the degree and nature of the changes the UK faces to decarbonise and secure energy in the future.
- Timely progress on Electricity Market Reform and changes to the planning process - vital to deliver new nuclear.
- Recognition of the future role of natural gas in a low-carbon generation mix - providing back-up to large-scale intermittent wind power.
- A tax regime that encourages recovery of the remaining reserves in the North Sea.
- Prompt action to implement energy policy.

“The clock is ticking,” Laidlaw concluded. “In my view, we as a nation have got one year in which to take action, or our carbon reduction targets may have to be sacrificed in the interests of safeguarding the security of our energy supplies.”