Utilities

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on utilities. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Research Papers

Date	Description
17.02.2010	Energy Bill: Committee Stage Report
	This paper summarises the House of Commons Second Reading and Committee Stage proceedings of the Energy Bill. The Bill received its Second Reading on 7 December 2009. It was not amended in Committee. The Bill will introduce an incentive to support up to four carbon capture and storage (CSS) demonstration projects in the UK. CSS is a way of reducing the impact of fossil fuel emissions by capturing carbon dioxide. It will also introduce mandatory support to lower energy bills for the most vulnerable, increase the powers of the industry regulator, Ofgem, and give the Secretary of State the power to ban cross-subsidy between gas and electricity accounts.
03.12.2009	Energy Bill. Bill 7 2009-10.
	The Bill would introduce: a carbon capture and storage incentive to support the construction of up to four UK demonstration projects, to be chosen in a competition; mandatory social price support to lower energy bills (social tariffs) for the most vulnerable, which would replace the current voluntary agreement which expires in 2011. It would also add ensuring security of supply and protecting consumers to the objectives of the regulator, Ofgem; increase the regulator's powers to deal with exploitation of electricity distribution constraints by generators; and increase Ofgem's power to fine companies. It would give the Secretary of State the power to ban cross-subsidy between gas and electricity accounts.

Select Committee Reports

Date	Description
27.04.2011	Electricity market reform.
	Government response. Energy and Climate Change Select Committee; Department of Energy and Climate Change report [Commons]
15.03.2010	The sale of the government's interest in British Energy.
	Public Accounts Committee report [Commons]
14.10.2009	Ofwat price review 2009.
	Government response. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]
15.07.2009	Ofwat price review 2009.
	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

Date	Description
13.12.2010	PRICE OF HEATING OIL
	That this House notes that many people rely on oil to heat their homes; further notes that the average price for heating oil tends to be less than 50 pence per litre; is concerned that ...
01.07.2010	CAMELOT AND USE OF LOTTERY TERMINALS
	That this House is alarmed about the organisation Camelot's proposal to mix gambling opportunities with bill-payment services such as those for heating, electricity, water and mobile ...
25.11.2009	COMPETITION COMMISSION INVESTIGATION INTO ENERGY COMPANIES
	That this House calls for a Competition Commission investigation into the relationship between wholesale prices and retail prices offered to consumers by the Big Six energy suppliers, ...
23.11.2009	OFGEM AND PREPAYMENT METER PRICES
	That this House welcomes Ofgem's proposals to ban unjustified price differences for prepayment meter customers; is concerned that prepay meter customers such as single parent families ...
22.04.2009	UTILITY COMPANIES' BUSINESS PRACTICES
	That this House notes the importance of utility companies exercising socially responsible and sustainable business practices; congratulates the staff and directors of Northumbrian Water ...

POST Papers

Date	Description
01.10.2010	Resilience of UK infrastructure
	This POSTnote outlines efforts to improve the resilience of infrastructure to the risks of natural hazards and any effects of future climate change.
01.02.2008	Smart metering of electricity and gas, February 2008
	Smart metering of electricity and gas, February 2008. POSTnote 08/301.