Over the past three weeks, the political parties held their annual conferences – a chance for the politicians to announce new policies. On the table were key policies relating to energy infrastructure and technology. Here’s what the major parties had to say:

The Conservative Party

Prime Minister Theresa May promised to end “…rip-off energy prices…” with a new cap on bills for customers currently on a Standard Variable Tariff (SVT). These are more expensive than Fixed-Term Contracts and there are currently 12 million customers on SVT in the UK who could each save £100 annually. May said:

"The energy market punishes loyalty with higher prices, and the most loyal customers are often those with lower incomes, the elderly, people with lower qualifications and people who rent their homes." 

Energy regulator Ofgem has announced an interim measure of a price cap for a million of the most vulnerable consumers. Ofgem’s cap will come into effect this winter. The Conservative policy would not take effect until winter 2018-19 at the earliest. 

In the wake of the cost of offshore wind energy dropping so dramatically, Energy Minister Richard Harrington was asked about potential new onshore windfarms. He said:

“Provided that [onshore wind generation] goes through a reasonable local planning system, I see no reason why it should not be on the same level playing field as everything else.”

The clear focus of announced Conservative energy policy is a reduction in the cost of consumer bills.

The Labour Party

Leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn pledged “…to take utilities back into public ownership.” A pledge that goes beyond their popular manifesto policy that sought to change licensing agreements and make new publicly-owned regional grids that would challenge the Big Six utilities companies. 

Rebecca Long-Bailey, a Labour MP who speaks on energy and industrial strategy, said:

“We’ve said we want to set up regionally owned energy companies to rival the ‘Big Six’ energy companies and create competition in the market. But that’s not the only thing we want them to do. In time we want them to be able to harness the ability to generate electricity on a local level alongside other business in the area.” 

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell pledged that the UK would be a “…world leader…” in the low-carbon transition and said that the Labour Party would create a publicly-owned energy supply using alternative energy sources. He also gave his backing to the Swansea tidal lagoon project.

Scottish National Party

The party with the third highest number of seats in the House of Commons held their conference last week. First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon announced a plan to set up a state-owned, not-for-profit, energy company in Scotland by 2021: 

“Energy would be bought wholesale or generated here in Scotland – renewable, of course – and sold to customers as close to cost price as possible. No shareholders to worry about. No corporate bonuses to consider. It would give people – particularly those on low incomes – more choice and the option of a supplier whose only job is to secure the lowest price for consumers.”  

Growing public discontent at rising bills has led all three major parties to rethink their energy policies. In this time of flux, it certainly doesn’t look like the energy industry will escape the upheaval. But upheaval creates opportunities and it is an exciting time to be involved in the energy sector. If you have the relevant skills, we’d like to hear from you. Send your CV to headoffice@peoplewithenergy.co.uk. 

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